Vaping is all over the news these days. But not in a good way.

For some time now, there have been general concerns about the health effects of this practice. But recent reports linking vaping to lung disease and even death have made front-page headlines.

One of the first cases of death was reported in Illinois. However, that development was preceded by an investigation launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into reports of mysterious lung disease in nearly 100 people in more than 12 states  over the summer.

That tally has recently expanded to 450-plus people in 33 states with five deaths.

Regulatory Considerations

Unfortunately, there is still much that is not well understood about the health effects of vaping devices and the substances they contain. Issues that make an evaluation difficult include:

• Was a user’s device bootleg, counterfeit or modified?
• How much vaping was done, frequency, for how long?
• Is there a common ingredient involved?
• What role does THC potentially play?

E-cigarettes have been on the market in the U.S. for about a decade now. Yet the Food and Drug Administration has not conducted systematic reviews of these products. The situation is complicated by the fact that there are hundreds of different types of devices. It was reported that the CDC and FDA have obtained some 120 devices and substances for further study.

Potential Health Effects of Vaping

Is vaping safe? There appear to be serious concerns that are quickly mounting up.

Vapes heat a liquid containing nicotine, marijuana or other drug products to produce an aerosol for inhaling. But other chemicals and flavorings are often included that can contain heavy metals, cancer-causing chemicals and volatile organic compounds.

A 2018 consensus report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine combining the results of some 800 studies on the topic indicated several serious potential vaping dangers:

• Ingredients can include propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde and vitamin E acetate.
• These substances can be toxic to cells, cause lung and cardiovascular disease, and exacerbate asthma.
• Secondhand emissions may contain nicotine, ultrafine particles, flavorings like diacetyl, benzene and heavy metals.

But one thing seems to be agreed upon – young people may be especially susceptible. And, in addition to these potentially serious health risks, there is evidence that vaping is helping to hook young people on nicotine.

This trend is especially concerning in terms of brain development and nicotine’s potential role in reducing emotional control as well as decision making and impulse regulation. As a result, the FDA is attempting to curb flavored vaping products, with Michigan recently becoming the first state to ban them outright and others considering such a move.

And all this is happening, ironically, as overall rates of tobacco smoking are in decline.

The bottom line at this point in time?

As New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently stated:

“Our advice is quite simple. Don’t do it, because we don’t know that it is safe. Common sense says if you don’t know what you are smoking, don’t smoke it.”

Vaping and Health Insurance

To some extent, this question is still in limbo. Because they don’t actually contain tobacco, e-cigarettes are in a gray area at the moment. However, the FDA has plans to regulate them similarly.

But, in the meantime, people should not assume that the distinction is ironclad. In fact, some insurance companies do categorize e-cigarettes along with traditional tobacco products. Others are simply unclear on how their guidelines apply.

If categorized as tobacco products, vapes would be subject to the tobacco rating, or surcharge, many insurance companies apply for smokers. The result can be up to 50% higher insurance premiums. However, some states do not allow a tobacco rating to be applied.

The most prudent approach is to make sure you understand exactly where vaping stands with your current insurance provider or a prospective provider. Read the details and ask questions. Informing your plan provider about vaping activity may increase your rates, but the consequence of withholding that information could be cancellation of your entire coverage.

A Word About Smoking

As we all know, smoking tobacco can be the cause of a wide range of health issues. To learn how it can affect eyesight, click here.