Philippines records first vape-related death
The Philippines had its first case of death due to e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI), the Department of Health (DOH) announced on May 31.
DOH Asst. Sec. Albert Domingo in a media forum said the victim, a 22-year-old from Laguna, died of a heart attack following a severe lung injury.
The victim, who used vape for the past two years, had no known comorbidities.
"DOH and PGH raise warning on vape as it cites first Filipino death," Domingo said. "Wala siyang risk factors maliban sa araw-araw siyang nagve-vape for the past two years bago siya atakihin sa puso."
Dr. Margarita Isabel Fernandez and several doctors of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) wrote a research published in the Respirology Case Reports journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.
Based on their research, the victim had a sudden onset severe chest pain for two days after doing a sports activity. He was running out of air (dyspnea), sweating excessively (diaphoresis), and having muscle pain (myalgia).
A week before that, he experienced cough with mucus (productive cough), cough with blood (hemoptysis), fever, and vomiting.
The research also found the victim denied a history of cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, or illegal drug use. He also never contracted COVID-19.
Domingo said that according to the PGH doctors' research, vape elevates the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Dalawang arteries sa kaniyang puso ang nabarahan.. nagdikit-dikit 'yung loob ng lungs niya,” he said.
Dr. Riz Gonzales of the Philippine Pediatric Society Tobacco and Nicotine Control Advocacy Group, meanwhile, said the case was one of the three EVALI cases recorded in May 2024.
The other cases are a 16-year-old dual smoker from Central Visayas and a 22-year-old from Alabang who previously smoked cigarettes and shifted to vaping.
Vape bill
The EVALI death came as the DOH is fighting to amend the controversial vape bill, which lowered the legal age for vape access from 21 to 18.
The bill, which lapsed into law in 2022, also allowed flavorings, advertising, and sponsorship strategies for vape products.
Under the law, vape regulation was transferred from the Food and Drugs Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry.
'Not safe'
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pointed out that tobacco products, including vapes, are not safe.
It also advised the youth, young adults, or pregnant women from using it.
Though it "may have the potential to benefit adults who smoke and are not pregnant if they are used as a complete substitute for smoked tobacco products," the CDC said the American Food and Drugs Association hasn't approved e-cigarette as an aid to stop smoking.
Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), in a 2021 research, found that there are thousands of chemical ingredients in vape products, most of which are not yet identified. These include caffeine, three chemicals never previously found in vapes, a pesticide, and two flavorings linked with possible toxic effects and respiratory irritation.
JHM also noted that like regular cigarettes, vapes contain nicotine, which may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine.
Users may get even more nicotine from vape than a regular cigarette, since they may buy cartridges with higher nicotine concentration or increase their vape's voltage for a greater hit of the substance.
1 in 7 students use vape
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, one in seven students aged 13 to 15 is using vape daily.
A major factor is its easy accessibility, being available everywhere, including stores, stops, street vendors, or kiosks.
They're also being promoted online as a purported alternative to smoking, since it's supposedly "healthier" and "safer."
