Garin warns public vs harmful effects from using vape

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker warned the public on Sunday against the use of electronic cigarettes and its harmful effects that could lead to death, citing the first vape-related death recorded by the Department of Health.

According to DOH, the 22-year-old died of a heart attack following a severe lung injury attributed to his daily vape use over the last two years. The patient developed respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation, and passed away three days after hospital admission, reports said.

“This should serve as an eye opener to the public, especially to the youth. Using of vape have its harmful effects and can be deadly,” House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin said in a statement.

READ: DOH, PGH raise warning vs vape, cite 1st PH death

“It is alarming. We have seen reports that children ages 13 years old are already using e-cigarette and vapes,” the lawmaker, who was also a former health secretary, added.

Garin said “vaping is not an alternative to smoking cigarettes” and is not safer compared to the latter. She added that e-cigarette users may have a medical condition called e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated with lung injury or EVALI.

“EVALI is a serious medical condition in which a person’s lungs become damaged from substances contained in e-cigarettes and vaping products,” she asserted, citing Yale Medicine.

“Our youth is being lured to nicotine addiction, especially with the different flavors of the said electronic device, and some of them are unaware of its contents,” Garin stressed as she cited a survey showing that one of seven youth, with an age range 13 to 15, are already using vape.