Vaping and E-Cigarettes
Vaping devices and e-cigarettes are used as a mechanism to inhale aerosol vapors that usually contain nicotine, flavorings and other additives. E-cigarettes are typically referred to as a tobacco product because most of them contain some nicotine in them.
Vape devices and e-cigarettes contain nicotine as well as other harmful chemicals including:
- Volatile organic compounds
- Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
- Heavy metals, such as nickel, lead, and tin
- Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease
Vaping Statistics
Currently, vaping devices are popular among young adults, and their popularity is continuing to increase. Pregnant women will use vaping devices in the hopes that they will be able to quit smoking regular cigarettes, but the dangers of these devices are also present. There is no evidence that shows that using vaping devices will help someone to quit smoking or using nicotine altogether, and the risks are too high to use this method as a form of quitting.
Today, more high school students use e-cigarettes than regular cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes is higher among high school students than adults. One in every four young adults in the United States have tried e-cigarettes, and the use of them is rising all the time, despite the negative health consequences that a person is risking by using.
Vaping Without Nicotine
Vaping without nicotine, despite being somewhat less harmful, can still cause someone to have uncomfortable side effects, especially depending on what the ingredients are and how the liquid is made. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done on vaping and e-cigarette use, the effects it has on the body and how harmful it can potentially be.
Side Effects of Vaping Without Nicotine
The long-term effects from vaping without nicotine while pregnant are still unknown, due to the lack of research that has been done. We do know that there are harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to a woman, pregnant woman, or her child.
Some side effects of vaping without nicotine include:
Irritation
The mouth and airways may become irritated after the vapors are heated in the device. When the substances are vaporized, they can become carcinogenic, and form cancer-causing compounds. One 2015 study found that one puff from a nicotine-free shisha pen contained enough propylene glycol and glycerol, two common base liquids, to cause irritation.
Toxicity
Vaping devices that do not contain nicotine can be dangerous because the liquid could potentially be toxic to a person’s cells. The added chemicals in vaping devices and e-cigarettes can contain toxic chemicals that can affect a person’s cells and break them down in a way that is harmful to their body.
In a 2018 study, they determined that e-cigarette vapor, despite lacking nicotine, still caused cell damage to occur when someone was exposed to it. The cells that are inside your lungs and help defend your body against toxins, allergens you breathe, and infectious particles are affected.
Another study the same year, determined that the added flavorings in e-cigarettes can cause damage to blood vessel cells, specifically in the heart, that help with long-term heart health. The effect of this cell damage can cause long-term effects such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Inflammation
Using a vaping device that is nicotine-free, poses its own risks, which trigger an immune system response. Heavy vaping or e-cigarette use can trigger an inflammatory response all throughout the body, particularly most prominent within the lungs and the throat.
“A 2018 in-vitro study concluded that exposure to e-juice flavoring compounds may activate an inflammatory response in certain types of white blood cells. This can affect how these cells work within your immune system.”
Vaping During Pregnancy
With the research on vaping devices lacking, it may be unknown how harmful the effects of vaping or using e-cigarettes is during pregnancy. What we do know, is that nicotine and the added ingredients can be harmful to not only the mother, but the unborn fetus as well.
At New Directions for Women, we treat ALL women, including pregnant women and women with children. Your safety and the safety of your child is what is most important. Under our professional care, you will safely detox from drugs without harming your baby. Our drug rehab for pregnant women helps those who need help to begin their recovery journey and become well for both themselves and their child.
Harmful Effects of Vaping During Pregnancy
Below are listed the potential harmful consequences of using tobacco products. Because most vaping and e-cigarette devices contain nicotine, the following could be problematic to an unborn child:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Miscarriage
- Problems with the placenta (such as placental abruption)
- Preterm delivery
- Stillbirth
- Low birth weight, which may require hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Higher risk of birth defects (including orofacial clefts and decreased lung and brain development)
When a woman smokes during her pregnancy, her child is also at risk for other side effects after pregnancy. Children of mothers who have smoked during their pregnancy are at an increased risk for: + Development of chronic conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) + Colic + Asthma
Help at New Directions for Women
With over 40 years of experience in successfully treating women and their families, we have found that women recovering among other women, dealing specifically with issues such as relationships, pregnancy, menopause, and self-esteem in gender specific groups has a profound effect on the recovery process. Our holistic approach offers a variety of services.
Our multi-disciplinary treatment team, comprised of Master’s Level Licensed Therapists and fully Certified Addiction Counselors, is passionate about providing comprehensive, individualized care with a recommended length of stay of 90 plus days. Research consistently shows that the longer a woman is in treatment to secure her foundation in recovery, the better outcome she will have for lasting abstinence and living a life beyond her wildest dreams.
We can help a woman where she is today to prevent any future wreckage from substance use disorder. Our caring staff have been helping women and families get sober for over forty years and understand the pain caused by addiction. We can help you find your solution. Contact us to speak with us. We can help.
