What are the warning signs of vaping - United Brain Association (2024)

• Intro

What is vaping?

Vaping is the process of inhaling the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette (commonly called an e-cigarette). The vapor is produced by heating a liquid inside the e-cigarette until it turns into a mist that is inhaled directly into the user's lungs.

The vapor almost always contains nicotine, a toxic substance that is also highly addictive. The steam usually also contains other chemicals and ultrafine particles that can cause damage. The dangers of vaping stem from the fact that users ingest these highly toxic substances directly into their lungs, one of the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of their body.

Symptoms of vaping addiction

About 99% of the liquids used in e-cigarettes contain nicotine, even if the manufacturers claim they are nicotine-free. Nicotine is found in tobacco and is considered as such just as addictive as drugs like heroin. When users vape, they are at high risk of developing nicotine addiction, which is very difficult to overcome.

Symptoms of nicotine addiction include:

• A strong, almost irresistible urge to vape
• Keep vaping even if you think it's bad for you
• Irritability, if you cannot steam
• Intrusive thoughts about vaping
• Vaping behavior that causes problems with family, friends, school or work
• Inability to stop vaping even if you try

If you are addicted to nicotine, you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you do not vape for a long time and the nicotine level in the bloodstream decreases.

Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:

• Headache
• Angst
• Irritability
• To sweat
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Depressive mood
• Hunger or craving for food
• Intense desire for vaping

• Reasons

What causes vaping addiction?

Nicotine is so addictive because it is disrupts brain chemistryin a way that causes users to need increasingly higher doses to feel good. Vaping is likely to cause addiction because it very fast and directdelivers nicotine into the lungs. It can be absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered directly to the brain within seconds of inhalation.

Once in the brain, nicotine causes the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters. One of these chemicals, called dopamine, stimulates parts of the brain that cause feelings of well-being, happiness, or even euphoria. The result is a quick, intense "high" that makes the user associate vaping with good feelings.

The problem is that the good feeling is very short-lived, much longer than the high associated with other addictive drugs. The fleeting euphoria makes the user continue vaping to maintain the good feeling.

Even worse, constant vaping reduces the brain's sensitivity to dopamine, leading to the need to vape more often to produce the pleasurable effects. Regular use also changes the brain circuitry that regulates learning, stress and impulse control. These changes can contribute to withdrawal symptoms.

• Genetic

Is vaping addiction hereditary?

The reasons why people start vaping and become addicted to the practice are complex. Environment, culture, peer pressure and a wide range of environmental factors play a role. However, there are indications that susceptibility to nicotine addiction and addiction to other medicines also has a hereditary component.

Studies have shown that hereditary risk of nicotine addictioncan be up to 80%. However, researchers have not been able to determine which genes may increase the risk, and it is not clear how the hereditary risk works in terms of brain chemistry.

Analysis of research data has revealed hundreds of different gene variations that may be a factor in addiction risk. These genes can influence how nerve cells communicate with each other in the brain or influence the brain's response to dopamine and other neurotransmitter chemicals.

Beyond the genetic component, there is strong evidence that people who grow up in households where vaping or tobacco occurs are much more likely to become addicted to nicotine themselves.

• Discovery

How is vaping addiction detected?

Early detection of vaping behavioris essential to prevent the long-term consequences of addiction. It can be difficult to spot the signs of vaping, especially for parents of children who try to hide their behavior.

Parents and loved ones should be on the lookout for these telltale signs of vaping:

• Unusual devices in a child's room or among their belongings.Vaping devices are not always easy to identify. Many e-cigarettes are designed to look like harmless objects such as pens and flash drives. Another clue is the presence of accessories, such as vape liquid refills and rechargeable batteries.
• Unusual odors.Unlike smoking, which produces strong, lingering odors, vaping produces very few lingering odors. But many vaping liquids are infused with flavors that have intense, often sweet smells while the user is vaping.
• Unusual thirst.The chemicals in a vape liquid often cause dehydration, making the user thirstier than normal.
• Changes in food preferences.Vaping can cause a decrease in taste sensitivity, which may cause users to salt or season their food more enthusiastically.
• Bloody nose.Vaping dries out the tissue in the nose, and the dryness can lead to frequent nosebleeds.
• Moon monsters.Vaping has also been linked to mouth ulcers that heal unusually slowly.
• Cough.Vaping can lead to a chronic cough, similar to that of smokers.

• Diagnose

How is vaping addiction diagnosed?

To determine whether a patient has a nicotine addiction, a doctor will ask questions about his or her vaping behavior. The frequency of vaping and the length of time the patient can spend without vaping (especially after waking up in the morning) indicate the intensity of the addiction. Differences in intensity indicate different types of treatments that may be effective.

• Therapy

How is vaping addiction treated?

Since vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, the effectiveness is gone vaping-related nicotine addictiontreatments have not been thoroughly studied. Healthcare providers have been forced to turn to treatments designed for smoking-related addiction, but some of these treatments may not be effective for vaping addiction. especially among young users.

• Nicotine replacement therapies.Common treatment for smoking-related nicotine addiction includes products that deliver nicotine in a less harmful way than smoking. Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, or other products relieve withdrawal symptoms and gradually reduce the patient's dependence on nicotine.
• However, vaping often delivers a higher dose of nicotine than smoking, and nicotine replacements may not be enough to relieve withdrawal symptoms. This disadvantage can make them less effective as a treatment.
• Medicine.Some antidepressants can reduce nicotine addiction by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. The drug Varenicline (brand name Chantix) works by reducing the pleasurable effects of nicotine and controlling withdrawal symptoms. However, Chantix is ​​not recommended for use by persons under the age of 16.
• Support groups.Peer support groups and addiction counseling can be helpful, especially when used in combination with other treatments.

• Progression

How does a vaping addiction develop?

Because many of the most serious health effects of smoking are associated with toxins other than nicotine, vaping is often considered safer than smoking. However, vaping comes with its own health risks and is dangerous for young people.

• Nicotine interferes with the development of nerve cells in the brain. It can damage the areas of the brain that control learning, impulse control, attention and mood. The effects may be especially pronounced in young people whose brains continue to develop well into young adulthood.
• Vaping can increase the chance that a user will smoke or become addicted to other drugs.
• Vape mist can contain very fine particles that can cause lung disease. Toxins such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and other carcinogens are also often present, increasing the risk of long-term health problems.
• Especially flavorings diacetyl, has been associated with bronchiolitis obliterans, a serious and potentially fatal lung disease.
• Vitamin E acetate, a chemical commonly found in THC-based vaping products, has also been linked to severe cases of lung disease.

• Prevention

How to prevent vaping addiction?

Once a user is addicted to nicotine, breaking the addiction is a challenge. Therefore, the best way to deal with this problem is to never start vaping.

Some steps you can take to prevent your children from experimenting with vaping include:

• Make sure they are informed about the dangers of vaping.Your child probably believes that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking. Make sure they know the health risks of vaping and understand the severity of nicotine addiction.
• Make them smart about vaping and marketing.Make sure your child knows how vape manufacturers are developing strategies to make their products attractive to young people.
• Watch for warning signs.Keep the lines of communication open with your child. Make it clear that they can talk to you about the pressure they face from their peers when it comes to vaping.
• Avoid vaping or smoking yourself.Your child is much more likely to start vaping if vaping or smoking is part of their family life.

• Related tips

Tips for Caregivers for Vaping Addiction

If your child or loved one is addicted to vaping, there are ways you can help them quit.

• Aid for education.A vaper has to want to quit, and misinformation about vaping can be a barrier to quitting. Many young people don't understand the dangers of vaping, and many don't even know that the vaping liquid they are using contains nicotine. They are more likely to want to quit if they know the truth.
• Point them to resources.Online support resources such as Truth InitiativeIn Become an Exis designed to help young people quit vaping.
• Expect bumps in the road to stop you.For nicotine addicts, vaping becomes a way to cope with daily stress. When withdrawal symptoms are at their greatest, your loved one will need to find new ways to cope with stress. You can help by being considerate of their frustrations and not adding to the pressure.
• Be optimistic and supportive.The process of beating nicotine addiction is frustrating. Rather than focusing on your loved one's misfortunes along the way, emphasize your pride and enthusiasm about their desire to quit.

Many people with vaping addiction also suffer from other brain and mental health problems, a condition called comorbidity. Here are a few of the terms often associatedmet weapon:

• Young people with a vaping addiction are at increased riskangstdisorders such associal anxiety disorderofAnxiety Disorder.
• Vaping addiction comes with a higher than normal riskdepression.
• People with a vaping addiction are at an increased riskalcoholismand other substance use problems.

• Brain science

Vaping Addiction Brain Science

Because vaping releases nicotine into the body differently than smoking or nicotine replacement therapies, researchers are not entirely sure that vaping affects the brain in the same way as smoking. However, Recent researchhave shown that nicotine from vaping causes the same activation of the brain's pleasure and reward centers. Resuming vaping after a period of abstinence also reduces withdrawal symptoms, suggesting that the user's brain responds in the same way as a smoker in a similar situation.

Research is ongoing into whether nicotine addiction from vaping is similar in all respects to addiction from smoking, but initial studies suggest the mechanism of addiction is very similar.

• Research

Research into vaping addiction

Title: Ability of PET/CT to detect the oral/pulmonary distribution of nicotine after e-cigarette use

Phase: Recruitment

Principal Investigator: Michael V. Knopp, MD, PhD

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Columbus, OH

The researchers aim to (1) establish a method for evaluating the biodistribution of radiolabeled nicotine after e-cigarette use, (2) determine the oral/pulmonary distribution of nicotine after e-cigarette use, and ( 3) determine the lowest required dose using the new digital PET/CT technology to provide detailed or accurate oral/pulmonary distribution data after e-cigarette use. Potential participants are identified using advertisem*nts such as brochures and online social media posts. Once participants are identified, eligibility is determined using survey tools. All eligible participants will first receive a screening visit at WCIBMI before participating in the study. During this first visit, the subjects are informed in detail about the study and the relevant consent form is reviewed and signed. If the participant agrees to participate, he or she will undergo a full general test. A maximum of 10 volunteers will participate in the dress rehearsal. All other volunteers (30) will undergo a general examination without radiation exposure on day 1, and on a second day they will participate in the full 11C-nicotine imaging study. During the imaging study, S-nicotine is labeled with 11C and placed in the cartridge of an e-cigarette. There will be two dose groups: (A) 3 mCi dose or (B) 9 mCi dose. The researchers plan to use dose level A; but if this does not lead to the expected results, an alternative dose level is needed as an option, namely the 9 mCi dose level (B). The subjects take a maximum of 10 puffs (1 puff every 30 seconds) from the e-cigarette while in the PET/CT system. Dynamic PET/CT imaging is performed for up to 60 minutes after inhalation. The subject is placed in the PET camera to generate axial images of the following areas: head/neck (e.g. brain, oral cavity and throat) and thorax (e.g. trachea, lungs). The quantitative deposition of radioactivity will be determined from the PET/CT images and the biodistribution and uptake/clearance will be evaluated. PET data will be collected in list mode and then used for simulation to determine the potentially lowest possible dose using next-generation digital PET/CT technology.

Title: Study of cardiovascular toxicity from exposure to electronic hookah vapors

Phase: Recruitment

Principal Investigator: Mary Rezk-Hanna, PhD

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Hookah smoking has quickly become a major global tobacco epidemic among young people, with electronic hookahs recently becoming increasingly popular, especially among young female adults, supporting marketing claims that these products are a safer alternative to traditional hookahs, but scientific evidence is lacking. The purpose of the study is to shed light on the comparative effects of traditional hookah smoking versus smoking. electronic hookah inhalation on human vascular and endothelial function and investigates the importance of inflammation and oxidative stress as likely mechanisms in the pathogenesis of hookah-related cardiovascular disease.

Title: Reactions to e-cigarette advertising

Phase: Recruitment

Principal Investigator: Elise M. Stevens, PhD

Harvard University

Boston, MA

While conventional cigarette use continues to decline among adolescents and young adults, e-cigarette (EC) use is increasing. The use of ECs early in life, especially at age 18, is particularly alarming because it is a critical period in adolescent development and a time when tobacco use has become established. Furthermore, the tobacco industry targets individuals of this age in the hope that they will one day develop into using combustible cigarettes. Advertising may be one reason why young people use ECs, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now has the authority to regulate the advertising functions of ECs. The purpose of the study is to determine which features of EC advertisem*nts have the greatest impact on young adults' attitudes, receptiveness, and intentions to use ECs. Fifteen advertisem*nts were selected from the most popular EU brands using a brand, product descriptions and modeling features. Young adults who are sensitive to EC use come into the lab and see these ads. During exposure, they will be assessed on real-time visual attention using eye tracking, orienting responses using heart rate and arousal using skin conductance, as well as pre- and post-ad self-report measures of attitudes, receptivity and behavioral intentions. These factors will help determine the most impactful features that will be associated with the most significant visual attention, orienting responses and arousal levels, and changes in attitudes. The results of this study will provide public health officials with critical and urgently needed information about which advertising characteristics are contributing to the sharp increase in EC use among young adults.