Flavored E-cigarettes May Make Your Asthma Worse

Flavored e-cigarettes — a habit that has been skyrocketed in recent years— was discovered that it may make worsen asthma, according to new research.

 

Australian scientists discovered that certain e-cigarette flavors change how sensitive mice's airways are to dust mites, a common asthma trigger.

 

For example, the “Black licorice” flavor had triggered inflammation, while the “Cinnacide” flavor caused “increased airway sensitivity”, while the “Banana Pudding” worsened tissue scarring.

 

The research — published in the journal Scientific Reports— was carried out by experts at the University of Technology Sydney.

 

“This is especially important for those with respiratory disease, who are vulnerable to the effects of smoking,” lead author Dr. David Chapman said.

 

The majority of smokers use flavored liquids, but there is some evidence that flavor additives can be toxic when inhaled.

 

The research comes as a man from Missouri, aged 40, has become the eighth person in the US to die from using e-cigarettes.

 

The finding showed that the number of people sickened by vaping has risen to 500, prompting an official investigation into the crisis.

 

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, which can make your breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

 

Its symptoms may occur several times in a day or week for inpiduals, and for some people become worse during physical activity or at night.

 

‘How to Cope’

Globally, around 235 million people are suffering from asthma, the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated.

 

The illness, can if — under-diagnosed and under-treated –  be a burden to inpiduals and their families, and possibly restricting inpiduals’ activities for a lifetime.

 

• Familiarize yourself with the latest asthma action plan:

An asthma action plan is a written outline that details how to take medications and what to do if certain symptoms appear or an attack seems imminent.

 

• Keep an inhaler on hand.

 

• Make some areas of the home pet-free zones:

Cat and dog dander are common asthma triggers. Keeping pets out of your house or limiting where they can go in the house, especially in bedrooms, may help relieve some of the symptoms.

 

• Identify environmental triggers:

Every person with asthma has different “triggers”. Some of the most common culprits are dust, pet dander (tiny flakes from a pet’s skin), mold, tobacco smoke, and air pollution.

 

Certain foods may also trigger asthma in some people.

 

• Remove carpets:

Use tile, wood, or laminate flooring if possible, these are easier to keep dust-free.

 

• Don’t allow smoking in the home.

 

• Maintain a healthy weight:

People who are obese may experience more asthma symptoms and hospitalizations than those who aren’t obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.