THE Department of Health yesterday reiterated its warning to the public on the ill effects of electronic cigarettes and vapes, adding that recent medical case reports highlight the severe health risks associated with the products.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa Jr. made the appeal on the eve of the commemoration of World No Tobacco Day.
Herbosa cited the study by Dr. Margarita Isabel Fernandez recently published in the medical journal Respirology Case Report which documented the death of a 22-year-old Filipino with no prior health issues who suffered a heart attack due to severe lung injury attributed to his daily vape use.
The victim, Herbosa said quoting the report, developed a serious lung condition known as e-cigarette or vaping-use-associated lung injury or EVALI.
“This tragic case underscores that e-cigarettes or vape products are not a safer smoking alternative as it endanger individuals, especially young people. Growing evidence suggests that it can cause significant harm to multiple body systems,” he said, adding that chemicals in the products can damage the heart and lungs, leading to heart attacks and EVALI.
“E-cigarettes and vaping are not safe alternatives to smoking. Usok pa rin iyan. May this tragic case serve as a stark reminder of their serious health risks,” he added.
The DOH reported the first EVALI case in the country in November 2018.
The DOH chief encouraged the public, especially the youth, not to succumb to “false advertisements” that vaping is a safer smoking alternative.
He added the department remains committed to educating the public about the dangers of vaping as he advocated for “stricter regulations on these harmful products.”
A 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey found that around 11 percent of Filipino students use tobacco, 10 percent smoke cigarettes, and 14 percent use e-cigarettes.
Data from the Philippine Pediatric Society also showed that 11 percent of students aged 10 to 15 years old have already tried vapes.
Among the reasons cited for vape use among students were online accessibility (32 percent), flavor (22 percent), and the belief that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes (17 percent).
To underscore its commitment to raising awareness of the dangers posed by vaping, Herbosa said today’s commemoration of World No Tobacco Day will center on how to protect the youth from the interference of the tobacco industry and the proliferation of vape products in the market.
A forum on the issue will be held in Manila to be attended by Sen. Pia Cayetano, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, Dr. Rizaline Gonzales, head of the Philippine Pediatric Society; Dr. Maricar Limpin, head of Action on Smoking and Health Philippines; Dr. Glynna Ong-Cabrera, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, and Roi Vincent Merca of the Child Rights Network.
