How Teens Can Save their Lungs

As a teen it seems like a fun idea to try all the new fads coming out. A popular item that is still used by teens today is a vape, also known as an E-cig. Vapes were introduced in the U.S around 2016, and ever since they have sky rocketed in popularity. Since first being introduced there has been a huge variety of brands, hundreds of flavors, and many small convenient designs that make them easier to carry around. Producing different brands gave more choices for someone to find a certain e-cig that they like and that they believe is good for them. The hundreds of flavors draw the appeal of teens because they are flavors that taste and smell good such as cherry, blueberry, pineapple, pink lemonade, and the list goes on and on. The new designs make it easier for teens to carry it along and smoke it discretely at all times of the day. All of these things make vaping seem like a good idea, however, the long-term effects may change an individual’s mind. Although the use of vapes seem harmless to teens, the reality is that vapes can be extremely harmful, cause serious health issues, and can even be deadly.

Being a teenager, it is easy to overlook the dangerous lifelong effects of vaping. As someone who use to use e-cigarettes, I know how easy it is to dismiss the news articles and commercials that warn people about the toxins they are putting into their body. Luckily, I have not had any severe health problems due to vaping, however, not everyone has been that lucky. Emily Baumgaertner, Sean Greene and Rahul Mukherjee from Los Angeles times state that “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked vaping to 1,479 cases of a mysterious lung disease over the last six months. At least 33 people have died since the outbreak began.” Emily Baumgaertner, Sean Greene and Rahul Mukherjee then go on to say “The illness is marked by chest pain, shortness of breath and vomiting, and it has largely affected young people.” Being young, one might disregard a slight chest pain or getting sick a few times. To someone addicted to nicotine, the issues may be worth it. However, in a few years when heart disease, cancer, or COPD shows up, the individual will wish they threw away their nasty habit. Although teens are aware of these horrible illnesses deriving from e-cigs, they are still not swayed to stop. It is time to leave vaping and save your lungs before it is too late.

Not only can vaping make someone very sick, it can also be deadly. A young adult still has so much life to live, is it worth it to throw it away for something as little as a vape? Sadly, to some teens they believe it is. According to Jen Christenson and Matthew Stucker from CNN, “The rates of eighth, 10th and 12th graders who use e-cigarettes continued to rise this year and doubled from 2017 to 2019”. It is heartbreaking to hear more and more young people using vapes, while knowing the risks. Jen Christenson and Matthew Stucker go on to say “Vaping-related illness recently killed another person in California, plus one person each in Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Oregon, officials have reported.” The reporters spoke on seven deaths regarding vapes, however, there are many more they did not mention. While these deaths may not have been teens, this is ultimately the end result for anyone who continues to use e-cigs and take in all the harmful toxins that come with it.

While hearing about adults passing away from vaping, does not always change a stubborn teens mind, maybe this will. Hearing of someone close in age can really hit close to home. Bernadette Hogan and Tamar Lapin from New York Post state that “A Bronx teenager was the first person to die of a vaping-related illness in New York” Bernadette Hogan and Tamar Lapin then go on to say “The 17-year-old boy died Oct 4 at the Children’s Hospital at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx after being admitted late last month with a respiratory illness” Respiratory illness could have come from many things, however, the biggest issue was his vaping. Imagine this being a classmate, best friend or even sibling. Vaping is not worth a life.

E-cigarettes have a ton of toxic chemicals. Acetaldehyde, Acrolein, and formaldehyde are all produced from E-cigs. These toxins are extremely dangerous and can cause lung disease. Sadly, it does not stop there, another chemical found in E-cigs is acrolein, which is used to kill weeds. Imagine how much damage can come from a chemical that is strong enough to kill weeds. Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin have also been found in vapes. These ingredients are actually toxic to your cells. All of these toxins are horrible, however, in my opinion nicotine is the worst one. Nicotine is strongly addictive. Once becoming addicted to nicotine, someone may never be able to stop.

While one who is addicted to vaping has to worry about the toxins in their body, they also have to face the lifelong aftermath. As I mentioned early heart disease, cancer and COPD are just a few of the consequences one may face. Heart disease has many different types, but ultimately it cannot be cured. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack or even a stroke. Cancer is more well-known and as a teen, it is likely someone with cancer has crossed paths with you. The most common cancer caused from vaping is lung cancer. The American Lung Association lists that “An estimated 154,050 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer in 2018, accounting for approximately 25 percent of all cancer deaths.” Putting down the vape can save someone from joining these numbers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD is also a lifelong effect of vaping. COPD makes it difficult for one to breath and the damages will never be reversed. As someone with a close family member that has COPD, I know it is not an easy illness to cope with. One of the worst symptoms of COPD that I have witnessed is a horrible cough. Also, along with the cough comes chest pain. My family member gave up smoking for good and still has to struggle with COPD years later. This is not something one has to live with if vaping is not part of an individual's life. Pick the right choice and avoid these painful consequences.

Although it may be fun to have a vape and fit in with the popular classmates, it is not worth it. Chemicals destroying the body, lifelong diseases and even death are not worth a small useless vape. Next time a friend is vaping, make sure to spread the awareness of how dangerous it is. If everyone comes together and helps spread awareness, we can stop teen vaping and save lives!

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