THE Department of Health (DOH) warned the public against use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other vape products as they cause severe health risks, citing a recent medical case report.
“E-cigarettes and vaping are not a safe alternative to smoking. Usok pa rin ‘yan (They still produce harmful smoke),” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement.
Citing the case documented by Dr. Margarita Isabel Fernandez and published in the Respirology Case Reports Journal, Herbosa urged the youth “not to believe false advertisements saying that vaping is a safer smoking alternative”.
In the case report, Fernandez discussed the condition of a 22-year-old Filipino male with no prior health issues.
The patient suffered a fatal heart attack, following severe lung injury possibly attributed to his daily vape use.
The patient suffering from severe chest pain, difficulty breathing and experienced a heart attack caused by blockages in his two major arteries was admitted to a hospital.
Fernandez said the patient developed a serious lung condition known as e-cigarette or vaping-use associated lung injury (EVALI).
Further examination showed severe pneumonia-like symptoms in the lungs, but no infections were detected.
The doctors performed an emergency procedure to open the blocked heart artery, but the patient’s condition worsened.
The patient developed respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation, and passed away three days after admission.
The case report underscores the dangers brought about by e-cigarettes and vape products especially among young people, even as international and local studies show that their use can cause significant harm to multiple body systems, leading to conditions like heart attacks and EVALI.
Herbosa urged the youth to make informed decisions to protect their health.
“The DOH remains committed to educating the public about the dangers of vaping, and advocating for stricter regulations on these harmful products,” he said. (PNA)
