DoD to Military Members, Dependents: Stay away from the vape

US health authorities have issued an alert advising service members and their families to refrain from vaping, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention associated with 380 serious lung disease habits, including six deaths.

Representatives from the Health Agency for the Defense have published an article on Health.mil describing the symptoms of the disease to be identified and encouraging anyone who presents and exhibits symptoms to seek medical attention.

"While the CDC's investigation into possible cases of lung disease and death related to the use of e-cigarette products is underway, service members, their families, and their dependents are encouraged." do not use electronic cigarette products, "said Dr. Terry Adirim. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Services Policy and Supervision.

Previously unknown cases of severe lung disease began to appear in July, when several teenagers were hospitalized in Wisconsin after taking a mixture of nicotine and THC. The first death related to the use of electronic cigarettes was reported in Illinois on August 23.

Related, connected, related: Department of Defense officials: All CBD products banned

The CDC did not find any common infection among the cases, which led officials to suspect exposure to chemicals.

Since no device, product, additive or substance has been identified in all cases, the CDC recommends that Americans avoid vaping. If they act, the CDC urges them not to use products bought on the street.

"Anyone who uses an e-cigarette or a vaping product should not buy these products on the street and should not modify or add substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer," CDC officials said. .

Troops may be less at risk, as most cases have reported vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, the THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which is banned from use in the US military.

However, the CDC noted that in some cases, patients had only taken nicotine.

"We do not yet know the specific cause of these diseases," said CDC officials.

Patients who develop symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever or weight loss should consult a doctor, said Adirim.

More than 450 possible cases have been reported to the CDC in 33 states and the US Virgin Islands, but the agency reduced this number earlier this week after limiting cases to those with abnormal chest X-rays, history of vaping and completed . laboratory work showing no signs of infection or other disease.

Patients experienced symptoms such as shortness of breath which worsened within a few days to a few weeks, coughing and chest pain requiring hospitalization. They needed oxygen to help breathe and many developed an acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, a type of pulmonary failure constituting a life-threatening condition that requires intubation and ventilation. of the patient. he kills between a third and half of those who develop it.

The CDC recommends that vapers that have gone out of cigarettes no longer smoke and, if they continue to use electronic cigarettes, monitor their symptoms themselves.

– Patricia Kime can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime.

Read more: Navy aircraft carrier group deploys without broken aircraft carrier

View the full article