FOR JUNE 11, 2023
MEDICAL INSIDER
DR. BRYAN CEPEDOZA
A Question & Answer Session
with Dr. Bryan Cepedoza
on VAPING
(Part 2)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): You said last time that
vaping could lead to COPD or Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. You also said that COPD
refers to a group of diseases that can cause
airflow blockage and breathing-related
problems. It includes emphysema and chronic
bronchitis. You said that COPD makes breathing
difficult. Would you wish to add to the
information, Dr. Bryan?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Yes and vaping could also
make you more likely to get asthma and other lung
conditions. In fact, other dangers of vaping include
lung scarring and addiction, Studies show that the
inhalation of harmful chemicals can cause irreversible
lung damage and lung disease. The same study said
that using cigarettes causes health risks. The study
concluded that e-cigarettes both contain and emit a
number of potentally toxic substances.
TBT: So, what are the ingredients found in vaping, Dr.
Bryan?
Dr. Bryan : Another study showed that the two
primary ingredients found in e-cigarettes are
propylene glucol and vegetable glycerine – these are
toxic to cells and the more ingredients there are in an
e-liquid, the greater the toxicity.
TBT: Is there such a thing as the safest vape?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: hi hi hi hi hi
TBT: I would like to repeat the question: Is vaping
better than smoking or is it worse than smoking?
Dr. Bryan : Vaping exposes users to fewer toxins and
at lower levels than smoking cigarettes. That is why
swiching to vaping significantly reduces your
exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, etc.
TBT: Are there benefits of vaping?
Dr. Bryan : Well, vaping is usually cheaper than
smoking. It is not harmless, but it is much less harmful
than smoking. Vaping is also less harmful to those
around you than smoking as there is no current
evidence that second hand vapour from vaping is
dangerous to others.
TBT: You said that vaping could lead to lung damage.
Can we be cured from lung damage due to vaping?
Dr. Bryan : Breathing in harmful chemicals from
vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be
cured) lung damage, lung disease and in some cases,
death. Some chemicals in vaping products can also
cause cardiovascular disease and biological changes
that are associated with cancer development.
TBT: Can one quit vaping, Dr. Bryan?
Dr. Bryan : To stop vaping is like the struggle of
quitting smoking and the desire to stop both would
really depend on the individual. But there are some
suggestions on how to stop or how to minimize
vaping. One is exercise. Physical activity is a reliable
way to stop a craving. Another one is to divert your
desire to vape. Use a distraction so that you would be
veered away from the craving to vape. Then, you can
also have a support system. If the craving comes, go
to your support system to help you not to vape. Then
you can also use some personal solutions to stress.
One reason a person vapes is because he is
stressed. Therefore, once you are stressed, do not
vape – get another solution
TBT: You said that vaping is also bad for the heart.
Will you please elaborate?
Dr. Bryan : Long-term use of electronic digarettes can
significantly impair the function of the bodys’s blood
vessels, increasing the risk for cardiovascular
disease. Moreover, the use of both e-cigarettes and
regular cigarettes may cause an even bigger risk than
the use of either of these products alone.
TBT: When you stop smoking and you turn to vaping,
what happens?
Dr. Bryan : As most smoking-related health issues
are caused by tobacco, the transfer from cigarette
smoking to vaping immediately stops the ex-smokers
from inhaling harmful chemicals – chemicals that are
more harmful than the chemicals found in the vapour
used in valing.
TBT: Can the urge to vape be caused by stress?
Dr. Bryan : Well, it is possible that stress can trigger
vape cravings, and can make it harder for one to stop
vaping. One may be encouraged to vape again when
one has feelings of anxiety and is stressed. But we all
should realize that vaping is not an effective way to
cope with the demands of stress.
TBT: So in conclusion, Dr. Bryan, why should one
stop vaping?
Dr. Bryan : The e-cigarette chemicals inhaled by a
person who vapes can contain cancer-causing
chemicals, heavy metals, and ultrafine particles which
can harm not only your lungs but the rest of your
body. Vaping can cause addiction. Once one is
addicted to it, it will be difficult to stop. In summary,
vaping does not give any benefit at all to the human
body.