This common habit among smokers and vapers may point to why they're more at risk for the coronavirus.
A new Stanford study links vaping to a “substantially increased risk” of COVID-19 in teens and young adults. The national sample of more than 4,000 participants conducted in May found that people who vaped were five to seven times more likely to become infected with the novel coronavirus, compared with those who did not vape.
“Young people may believe their age protects them from contracting the virus or that they will not experience symptoms of COVID-19, but the data show this isn’t true among those who vape,” the study’s lead author, Dr. Shivani Mathur Gaiha, wrote in a statement. “This study tells us pretty clearly that youth who are using vapes or are dual-using [e-cigarettes and cigarettes] are at elevated risk, and it’s not just a small increase in risk; it’s a big one.
Research has also warned that e-cigarettes actually encourage teens to try traditional cigarettes, even though the products are often marketed as an alternative to cigarettes and a means to quit smoking. In fact, the odds of ever smoking a cigarette were four times higher if the teenager used an e-cigarette as their first tobacco product, one study of 6,000 young people found.
The FDA was not immediately available for comment. Its COVID-19 FAQ warns that people who smoke traditional cigarettes may be more vulnerable to respiratory illness, including COVID-19, as smoking causes lung disease and can also create inflammation and cell damage throughout the body. But it has less to say about e-cigarettes. For now, the FDA warns that vaping tobacco or nicotine can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vaping Increases Covid-19 Risk For Teens And Young AdultsVaping is linked to a substantially increased risk of Covid-19 among teenagers and young adults, according to a new study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Read more »
Teen vapers up to 7 times more likely to get COVID-19: Stanford study“Being a 21-year-old, I should not be spending six days in the hospital for lung complications,” said one young vaper who survived coronavirus.
Read more »
FDA won't 'cut corners' to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, commissioner saysWhile more classrooms are scheduled to reopen this week, some students who just started their school year must go back to virtual learning because of new infections among students and teachers. COVID19
Read more »
Coronavirus updates: US records more than 1,000 new deaths from COVID-19CORONAVIRUS LATEST: — U.S. records more than 1,000 new deaths from COVID-19. — Nearly one-third of Kentucky's new cases among teens.
Read more »
Private equity funding plummets in COVID-19: Experts say it's a blip - Business InsiderPrivate-equity fundraising hit a 2-year low in Q2 as coronavirus wreaked havoc with businesses and travel. We spoke to experts about why the drop is a 'pause, rather than a wholesale change.'
Read more »