The American Heart Association announced in April that it plans to invest nearly $17 million in scientific research focused on the effects of vape pens and e-cigarettes on youth health.

Researchers Race to Learn More About Vaping Side Effects

Despite the decrease in underage use of traditional cigarettes, youth nicotine consumption has exploded over the past several years due to the rise in popularity of vapes and e-cigarettes. News Medical reports that approximately 3.6 million, or 1 in 4 high school students, report using e-cigarettes. However, while these devices have been touted by manufacturers as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, the potential health side effects are not yet known. After a surge in vape-related lung illnesses reported across the country in 2019, researchers are turning their attention to the possible hazards associated with vape pens.

The American Heart Association’s $17 million investment will allow scientists at Boston University, Ohio State and Yale to study these potential hazards and health consequences. The money will fund several projects over the course of two years, including research into the potential toxicity of e-cigarette components, e-cigarette effects on heart and lung health, impact on the brain, and effects of long and short term e-cigarette use. Research into youth nicotine behavior will also be funded, including studies on puffing habits and flavor choices, as well as ways to reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes for teens, and how best to support youth nicotine addicts who wish to quit smoking.

Some of the funding will be spent on developing and testing programs meant to educate young people about the dangers of underage nicotine abuse, promote nicotine abstention, and change youth perceptions about vaping.

Many of the studies will also consider how to utilize technology in the fight against teen nicotine abuse. Virtual reality and text messaging-based e-cigarette cessation programs will be developed and studied, as well as a smartphone-based nicotine abstinence plan.

Dangers of Vaping for Teens

The American Heart Association’s funding will focus on several projects geared toward studying the effects of vaping on underage users, as minors may be especially susceptible to the negative health consequences of these devices. People who start smoking at a young age are more likely to smoke as adults and find it harder to quit. Their still-developing brains may be at higher risk of being harmed by exposure to nicotine. Additionally, teens who smoke vape pens and e-cigarettes may be inhaling much more nicotine than they realize.

A single vape pen nicotine pod contains about as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Due to the smooth vapor and fruity flavors available for vape pens, it may be easy for teens to overdo it without realizing it. Although many fruity e-cigarette flavors have recently been banned or removed from the market in order to make vaping less appealing to teens, only refillable vape pens are affected by the flavor ban. Some teachers told The New York Times that the ban hasn’t resulted in a decrease in underage nicotine use. Instead, young people have simply switched to disposable vape pens, which are still allowed to be sold in fruity flavors.  Other studies into teen nicotine use have indicated that many underage users may not even be aware that these products contain nicotine.

While some students have reported only smoking flavored vapor, most e-cigarette brands do not produce nicotine-free products, according to NBC News.

Symptoms of E-Cigarette Effects on Heart and Lungs

In addition to the risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, exposure to vape pens and e-cigarettes may also result in negative health consequences for the lungs and heart. E-cigarette effects on heart and lung health may lead to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury, known as EVALI, a vape-related lung condition that can be serious or even fatal. Symptoms of EVALI and other vape-related conditions may include shortness of breath, cough, fever, chills, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting diarrhea, or abdominal pain.

Other potential health hazards associated with e-cigarettes include cancer, memory and cognition issues, nicotine overdoses, and seizures.

If you or your child has suffered from negative e-cigarette effects on heart and lung health, you may be eligible to file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Hiring a qualified attorney to review your case may be the first step toward pursuing compensation for pain and suffering, injuries, and medical expenses related to the use of e-cigarettes and vape pens.