Asthma attacks up in young, female vapers

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Young women who vape are more likely to experience an asthma attack, causing an increased risk of hospitalization and emergency department visits. That’s according to a recent Canadian Community Health Survey.

According to the survey’s lead author, Teresa To, PhD, MSc, BSc, senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children and professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at University of Toronto, the odds of the asthma attack are greater in young women than in young men. The result also is taking its toll on health services, Dr. To said.

The survey assessed 2,700 individuals between the ages of 15 and 30 to study the rates of asthma, asthma attacks and health services use among those who used e-cigarettes versus those who did not use e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. In 3% of survey respondents, e-cigarette use began as early as age 12.

As such, Dr. To encourages physicians to ask their young patients if they vape or smoke, talk to them about the harmful health effects of vaping, and discuss methods for stopping vaping and smoking.

According to Dr. To, one in two e-cigarette smokers also smoked cigarettes daily. 

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