Vaping was previously boasted as a healthier alternative to smoking. This, paired with the perceived notion that vaping is or looks cool, made it a massive success as it began invading drug stores and smoke shops. As we quickly learned, however, vaping is not necessarily safe. Just last year, cases of vaping illness exploded, causing concern in regards to the safety of these products and their usage.
If you had previously vaped regularly, you may be wondering, what are the early warning signs of vaping illness? To better understand what e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) and illness looks like, here is a guide that will break down these illnesses and help you better determine if you may be affected.
Initial Symptoms
Arguably the most concerning aspect of vaping illness and injuries is the fact that these symptoms reveal themselves just before hospitalization is needed. In some cases, symptoms progress into something more serious within a matter of days. For others, weeks. Either way, the early warning signs that you should be looking out for include shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty breathing, and chest pain or a feeling of tightness in the chest.
If you feel any of these (which are a cause for concern on their own), make sure to reach out for help so that you can get help for these symptoms. Hospitalization may be required, but some cases may be milder and you may end up getting local breathing disorder treatment in Bridgewater, NJ. If you are concerned about your vaping habits, keep an eye on these symptoms to identify them before they become a serious issue.
Additional Associated Symptoms
It’s important to watch out for potential warning signs before they become a problem. However, it is equally important to understand what vaping illness may look like once symptoms have had a chance to progress (if you missed or disregarded the main symptoms listed above). Additional symptoms associated with vaping illness include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
As was stated above, it is vital that you make sure to reach out for help as soon as possible. Some illnesses became problematic within days, which is time that is needed to properly diagnose and begin treating these symptoms. If not, the symptoms that you are experiencing from vaping could prove fatal.
What else can I do?
When vaping becomes potentially deadly, treatment becomes expensive and the very tool that you used to avoid smoking becomes a threat to your health. In these cases, you may be looking to receive compensation for the harm that you have experienced thus far. If you are looking to pursue legal action to hold the companies responsible for your health accountable, considered turning to authoritative individuals like renowned New York lawyer Howard Fentserman to aid you in your efforts.
Besides reaching out for help if you experience symptoms, make sure that you also stop vaping immediately. Because some symptoms may mimic the flu or other minor illnesses, the doctor may simply send you home and ask you to rest and keep an eye on your symptoms. For some, this may sound like permission to keep vaping. If you want to avoid the potential for developing a vaping illness, avoid vaping entirely.
Vaping illness is very serious. While some vape and do not experience any symptoms, others have been heavily impacted by this activity. To stay safe and maintain your health, use the guide above to learn more about what symptoms look like, what you should do if you have them, and how you can prevent any further problems in the future.