BOSTON, Mass. — Less than ten cases of vaping-related illness have been treated in Massachusetts hospitals; however, one pulmonologist in the Commonwealth says that there is a definite cause for concern. The Bay State Governor also recognized the fears. Massachusetts’ governor declared a public health emergency and accordingly banned all sales of e-cigarettes. The ban […]
BOSTON, Mass. — Less than ten cases of vaping-related illness have been treated in Massachusetts hospitals; however, one pulmonologist in the Commonwealth says that there is a definite cause for concern. The Bay State Governor also recognized the fears. Massachusetts’ governor declared a public health emergency and accordingly banned all sales of e-cigarettes. The ban will last for four months at this time. The ban includes all vaping products, including THC-infused products, even though marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, flavored, and nicotine-based vaping goods according to the Greenfield Recorder.
The pulmonologist interviewed for the story told the Greenfield Recorder that people hold three misconceptions about vaping. The doctor said that people harbor the misconceptions that vaping is harmless, is not addictive, and only the THC-infused vaping products are making people sick. People are working to dispel those myths.
The doctor likened the misconceptions about vaping to those once held about tobacco smoking. The doctor said that one commonly held belief about cigarette smoking was that it was harmless. We now know that smoking-related diseases are purely preventable.
The doctor provided a substantial amount of health advice. The pulmonologist reminds people that lungs are exclusively for breathing air and nothing else. However, recognizing that people still smoke and use vapes, the doctor offered some practical advice too. He said that people who vape should not use black market products and do not add e-liquids to the mix if not intended by the manufacturer.
The doctor also dispelled the myth that vaping is a healthy substitute for tobacco smoking. The pulmonologist stated that the best way to quit smoking is to consult with one’s primary care physician to devise a healthy and safe smoking cessation plan. The same advice applies when trying to quit e-cigarettes. The pulmonologist advised that while e-cigarettes can help someone quit traditional smoking, vaping is not a safe method of quitting. He said that many people who have fallen ill from the lung illness crisscrossing the country vaped for a few days before falling deathly ill.