The vaping health risks associated with teenage e-cigarette use can have consequences for teen athletes’ performance as well as their health.

Teen Athletes Suffer Vaping Consequences

According to one teen hockey player who began vaping in ninth grade, his ability to keep up with his hockey teammates was drastically affected by his use of e-cigarettes.

In an article published by NBC News on July 10, 2019, Cade B. stated, “I couldn’t stay on the ice for more than a minute and a half before being gassed. My lungs couldn’t handle it. I felt like I couldn’t pull enough air into my lungs.”

Cade began using Juul, a popular brand of vape pen, after being introduced to the device by some of his friends. However, he did not tell his family or his doctor about his nicotine use, leading them to believe that he was suffering from exercise induced asthma.

After he was caught vaping in high school, Cade was removed from his role as hockey team captain and had to sit out a quarter of the season. According to his mother, vaping not only affected Cade’s ability to breathe, it also cost him opportunities to advance as a hockey player.

Recruiters and coaches who came to watch the team during his absence missed seeing him play. Even if he had not been suspended from the team, his abilities had decreased along with his lung capacity.

High school coaches for multiple sports have noticed their athletes suffering the effects of vaping health risks. One swim coach claims that over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of swimmers unable to perform in meets due to respiratory issues. These teen e-cigarette users may not even be aware of the damage that vape pens can cause.

Vaping Health Risks Especially High for Teens

NBC News also reports that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, use of e-cigarettes by high school students has increased by nearly 80 percent from 2017 to 2018. Approximately 40 percent of high school seniors report having vaped within the last 12 months.

Many of these teens may not even be aware of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes and vape pens. Some young e-cigarette users, according to a publication for international students, SI News, may not even know that they are being exposed to nicotine. According to some research also reported by NBC News, many teens believe that they are simply inhaling flavored vapor, rather than nicotine.

In order to combat this lack of awareness around vaping health risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced their first e-cigarette prevention advertising targeting kids and young adults. These TV ads and posters are designed to grab youth attention and spread awareness about the dangerous side effects of these devices.

If you or your child has suffered from vaping health risks after using e-cigarettes or vape pens, you may be eligible to file a class action lawsuit and pursue compensatory damages for costs associated with these side effects.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.