The doctor called the difficult-to-diagnose symptoms of the disease EVALI

Vapes and e-cigarettes are considered extremely dangerous because of the oil additives that, when heated, turn into microscopic droplets that settle in the respiratory tract. This leads to the serious disease EVALI, which was first registered in the United States in 2019. Today, the syndrome is of particular concern to doctors due to the growing popularity of vaping among teenagers, as Olga Tsagaraeva, a pulmonologist at JSC Meditsina (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia on April 24.

EVALI (Electronic cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury) is a severe non-infectious lung lesion that clinically resembles pneumonia.

"The basic ingredients (glycerin, propylene glycol, and even vitamin E in the form of acetate) are relatively harmless on their own, but their inhalation in the form of an aerosol poses a serious threat. Oil particles block the bronchioles, preventing normal gas exchange and causing an inflammatory reaction," explains Tsagaraeva.

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According to her, the diagnosis of EVALI is particularly difficult. The disease disguises itself as ordinary pneumonia or a viral infection, and standard examination methods do not always allow you to immediately identify the true cause.

The main diagnostic methods, as explained by the expert, are a clinical blood test, which often detects leukocytosis, and MSCT of the chest organs to assess the degree of lung damage. In some cases, bronchoscopy is performed.

"The key differential feature is the fact of using electronic cigarettes. If a patient, especially a teenager, hides this information, it is difficult for the doctor to suspect EVALI and start treatment on time," Tsagaraeva warned.

She clarified that the key symptoms are shortness of breath, paroxysmal cough, fever up to 39 degrees, chills and increased fatigue.

Regular use of electronic cigarettes, the doctor warns, leads to over-drying of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, making them vulnerable to infections.

"Against the background of chronic inflammation and oxygen starvation (hypoxia), irreversible changes in the lungs gradually develop, from fibrosis to severe forms of COPD," says the pulmanologist.

The doctor emphasizes that there is no safe form of vaping. Unlike traditional cigarettes, where you can gradually reduce the dose of nicotine, with electronic smoking, the only correct solution is to completely give up. Experts are particularly concerned about the spread of vaping among schoolchildren, which requires increased preventive work with both adolescents and their parents.

"E—cigarettes are not a safe alternative to smoking," Tsagaraeva concludes. "They only exacerbate nicotine addiction and increase the risk of developing severe respiratory diseases."

Earlier, on April 3, Natalia Zolotareva, cardiologist at SM Clinic, told Izvestia about the causes of early heart attacks in modern people. According to her, smokers have a two to four times higher risk of heart attack than non-smokers, and even "light" cigarettes and electronic devices are dangerous. Vapes, despite safety myths, contain toxic substances that disrupt the function of the endothelium, a thin layer of cells that protects blood vessels.