The Department of Health (DOH) issued a warning against the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other vape products due to severe health risks. The caution comes after a recent medical case report highlighted the dangers associated with vaping.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa cited a study documented by Dr. Margarita Isabel Fernandez and published in the Respirology Case Reports Journal, which emphasized that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to smoking.
The case report focused on a 22-year-old Filipino male with no prior health issues. Shockingly, the patient suffered a fatal heart attack linked to severe lung injury, likely caused by daily vape use. The young man experienced severe chest pain and difficulty breathing, succumbing to blockages in his major arteries.
Dr. Fernandez identified the patient’s condition as e-cigarette or vaping-use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Although no infections were detected, severe pneumonia-like symptoms were seen in the patient’s lungs. Despite emergency efforts to open the blocked heart artery, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The patient developed respiratory failure and passed away within three days of admission.
The case underscores the dangers posed by e-cigarettes and vape products, especially among young people. International and local studies consistently reveal that vaping can cause significant harm to multiple body systems, leading to conditions like heart attacks and EVALI.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education has intensified efforts to eradicate vaping within school premises. Additionally, it strictly prohibits the selling and promoting of vape products within a school’s 100-meter radius.
Source: PNA
Image: PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
