The World Health Organization (WHO) shared via X (previously known as Twitter) on Monday that vaping could heighten the risk of seizures, typically occurring within a 24-hour timeframe after use.
An electronic cigarette or vape is a device designed to simulates tobacco smoking by heating liquid into an aerosol, which is then inhaled into the lungs. While vaping is often considered safer than traditional cigarettes, experts underscore that it still has adverse effects on the human body.
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.
“Though a small number of case studies have noted seizures in individuals using nicotine e-cigarettes, this does not conclusively establish a direct link between vaping and seizures. Nevertheless, due to the presence of various chemicals in vaping aerosols, which can irritate the lungs, it is advisable to avoid vaping. It may result in symptoms like shortness of breath or coughing, and in severe cases, it could lead to more serious lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” stated Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Head of Critical Care and Pulmonology at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, in remarks to the media.
Dr. Grover highlighted that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Nicotine, present in the majority of vape fluids, exerts a multifaceted impact on the brain.
“Depending on the dosage and individual, nicotine can have either stimulating or calming effects. Some theories propose that extensive vaping could potentially decrease the seizure threshold in certain individuals, increasing their susceptibility to seizures,” Dr. Grover conveyed to the media.
A study by Johns Hopkins University on vape ingredients, published in October 2021, uncovers thousands of chemical components in vape products, many of which remain unidentified. Notably, the research identifies several potentially harmful substances, including caffeine, three previously unrecognized chemicals in e-cigarettes, a pesticide, and two flavorings associated with potential 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, recent data suggests correlations with chronic lung disease and asthma, as well as associations between the simultaneous use of e-cigarettes and smoking and 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.