Doctor warns of side effects of vaping

A health expert has issued a stark warning about the hidden side effects of vaping, including an increased risk of a “silent killer” type of cancer.

Dr Mike, a board-certified family medicine physician with over 12.2 million YouTube subscribers and host of The Checkup with Doctor Mike podcast, shared his concerns while speaking with Steven Bartlett on the Diary Of A CEO podcast.

Vaping, which has seen an increase in popularity especially among young people, is often perceived as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, according to Dr Mike. But he warns that one of the significant risks associated with vaping is its potential to discourage people from engaging in healthier lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise and maintaining a balanced diet.

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He points out that the full extent of the dangers of vaping remain largely unknown. But its easy access and inoffensive smell could make it more addictive than smoking, reports Wales Online.

Dr. Mike particularly emphasizes the risks to young people with developing brains, advising that vaping should be a means of quitting smoking rather than a gateway to nicotine addiction. He said: “Vaping should be used as a tool as a way to get off cigarettes, not as a way to get into cigarettes or nicotine.”

Dr Mike issued a stark warning for adults who have never smoked but have taken up vaping, saying: “It’s not something that has any health value and can only do potential harm.”

Research into the negative health effects of vaping has highlighted several concerns, including:

• Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
• Damage to the lungs, leading to breathing problems
• Increased risk of cancer
• Negative effects on brain development in young people

Lung cancer, in particular, is often described as a “silent killer” because there are usually no signs or symptoms of lung cancer in its early stages. Symptoms develop as the condition progresses.

The main symptoms of lung cancer include:

• a cough that does not go away after three weeks
• a long-lasting cough that gets worse
• chest infections that keep coming back
• coughing up blood
• a pain when breathing or coughing
• persistent dyspnea
• persistent fatigue or lack of energy
• loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

Less common symptoms of lung cancer include:

• changes in the appearance of the fingers, such as they become more curved or their ends become larger (this is known as clubbing)
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or pain when swallowing
• wheezing
• a hoarse voice
• swelling of the face or neck
• persistent chest or shoulder pain

See a family doctor if you have any of the main symptoms of lung cancer or any of the less common symptoms.

Although the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, current evidence suggests that it is not a safe alternative to smoking and should be avoided. Dr. Mike goes on to clarify that his intention is not to create fear, but to raise awareness of the potential harms of vaping, which may not be immediately apparent due to its seemingly less harmful nature compared to cigarettes .

Cancer Research UK adds: “There is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer. But e-cigarettes are not without risks.”

Johns Hopkins lung cancer surgeon Stephen Broderick says cancer is a concern, given that vaping introduces a number of chemicals into the lungs. But vaping products haven’t been around long enough for us to know whether or not they cause cancer.

“We know that smoking tobacco forces small particles to lodge deep in the bronchial tree and can lead to the development of cancer. The same can be true for vaping,” says Broderick.

A 2021 study exploring the links between vaping and cancer also states, “Although no human cancers associated with E-cig vaping have been reported so far, hundreds of lung diseases and dozens of deaths are attributed to E-cig vaping.”

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