The Oregon Health Authority recently released a statement that another person has died because of the lung disease associated with vaping.
Over the last couple of months, hundreds of patients all over the US -- mostly young adults and teenagers -- have been admitted to the hospital due to respiratory disease directly related to vaping. The cause of the illnesses and whether or not they are to be associated to a specific brand or a chemical contained in an e-cigarette are just some of the questions that experts are looking into. In Illinois, only one other death has been reported that is related to this illness.
Authorities of Oregon have identified another patient who suffered from such disease and died due to complications of it in July. The patient was reported to have been using an e-cigarette with cannabis in it. The liquified cannabis was purchased from a cannabis dispensary, according to a statement. There has been a contaminant identified in the cannabis products that most patients across the country are using.
Health officials said that it is a type of oil derived from Vitamin E, according to the report released by The Washington Post. However, although there is a strong suggestion that it is, there is no study to back it up as the direct cause of the illness.
The patient from Oregon, though its age and gender were kept undisclosed, was reported to have suffered from symptoms that were likened to those that were found in patients who were reported to have suffered the disease related to vaping.
Public Health Officials sent out a warning to clinicians to be more alert of the early signs and symptoms of such disease, particularly patients who have been diagnosed with a respiratory illness that are also users of e-cigarettes. Shortness of breath, chest pains, cough, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, fatigue, and vomiting -- these may be some of the symptoms to watch out for.
Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released a statement regarding the safety of the use of e-cigarettes. They have advised all users and potential users from using electronic cigarettes while they look into the issue. Apart from the ongoing investigation about the safety of vaping, they also said that pregnant women, adults and teenagers who are not into tobacco smoking, should not try vaping altogether.
