The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday posted on X (formerly Twitter) that vaping can increase the risk of seizures typically within 24 hours of doing it.
An electronic cigarette or vape is a device that simulates tobacco smoking. These devices heat liquid into an aerosol for inhalation into the lungs. Although vaping is believed to be safer than cigarettes, experts have emphasised that it also affects the human body adversely.
After WHO’s X post warning the users of the harmful link between vaping and seizures, the social media platform’s Reader’s Context flagged, citing a couple of medical journals, that “vaping nicotine has not been found to cause seizures” rather it stated “nicotine is known to prevent some types of epileptic seizures.”
Can vaping nicotine cause seizures? Here’s what doctors say.
“…a small number of case studies have reported seizures in people using nicotine e-cigarettes, but this does not completely verify the correlation between vaping an seizures. However, as vaping aerosol contains various chemicals which irritate the lungs, it should be avoided. It can cause shortness of breath or coughing. In some cases, it can lead to more serious lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Head of Critical Care and Pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram told Financial Express.com.
According to Dr. Grover, e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine, found in most vape fluids, has a complex effect on the brain.
“Depending on the dose and individual, it can be either stimulating or calming. Some theories suggest that heavy vaping might lower the seizure threshold for certain people, making them more likely to experience seizures,” he told Financial Express.com.
Research from The Johns Hopkins University on vape ingredients published in October 2021 reveals thousands of chemical ingredients in vape products, most of which are not yet identified. According to the report, among those the team could identify were several potentially harmful substances, including caffeine, three chemicals never previously found in e-cigarettes, a pesticide and two flavorings linked with possible toxic effects and respiratory irritation.
Moreover, emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, as well as associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease.
Additionally, the American Lung Association maintains that e-cigarettes produce several dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease. Although there are several reports on the impact of vaping on lung and cardiovascular health, studies suggesting its link as a causal factor of seizures are scarce.
A 2022 study published in Cureus journal reported a case of recurrent seizure provoked by e-cigarette use. The study highlighted that all three seizures occurred within minutes after vaping when the nicotine level was at its highest, leading to the conclusion that his three seizures were provoked by vaping. Another 2023 study published in PLOS ONE journal also highlighted that people who smoke may be at an increased risk of developing epilepsy.
“As a pulmonologist, I appreciate WHO’s acknowledgment of a potential association between vaping and seizures, though specific data may not be readily available. This acknowledgment is crucial in dispelling the misconception that vaping is harmless. The possibility of seizures, even without precise timelines, underscores the urgency of the issue, particularly among demographics targeted by marketing campaigns,” Dr. Vikas Maurya, Director and HOD Pulmonology, Fortis Shalimar Bagh told Financial Express.com.
Individuals need to understand the potential health risks and prioritize well-being by exercising caution or abstaining from vaping, Dr. Maurya said.
“As healthcare advocates, we must continue to raise awareness about the potential dangers of vaping and support measures to protect public health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as adolescents,” he added.
