OhioHealth Medical Minute: Vaping

Marcus Thorpe/Host: It has been the talk around the country over the past several weeks, vaping. And to talk about this very important topic, we have Ben Bring, DO, who is a family physician at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital. Dr. Bring, I know you are very passionate about this topic, what is happening in the body with vaping?

Ben Bring: When you vape there are oils, typically THC or nicotine, and what is happening is you heat up those vapors break down into tiny microparticles that go into the alveoli of the lungs and they see that as foreign particles that can create an inflammatory response.

MT: We see how much of an impact this is having on young people, what are you seeing when it comes to young people and the impact?

BB: We are seeing teens and those in their 20's getting impacted, those that have relatively healthy lungs prior to using some of the vaping products and tools and then they develop lung complications and conditions and can have long-term lung scarring and respiratory infections.

MT: What advice would you give to someone who is doing it, or is considering doing it?

BB: At this point, until we learn more about it, the best thing to do is stop vaping as soon as possible.  We need to do more research on what is causing these symptoms, what types of oils are potentially causing it, and we don't know the long-term side effects the high levels of nicotine can be absorbed as a result of vaping. We don't have enough information yet.

MT: To learn more you go to OhioHealth.com