MANILA – Philippines has recorded its first vape-related death. A user of electric cigarette died due to heart attack in 2023, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed.
According to Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping elevated the 22-year-old Filipino male’s risk of acute myocardial infarction and stroke.
The vape-related death was stated in the research study published in the Respirology Case Reports journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology by Dr. Margarita Isabel Fernandez and several doctors of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
“DOH and PGH raises warning on vape as it cites the first Filipino death. Bente-dos anyos na namatay sa heart attack. Ang pinaka-striking sa kasong ito ‘yung kaniyang heart attack. Wala siyang risk factors maliban sa araw-araw siyang nagva-vape for the past two years bago siya atakihin sa puso,” he said.
Based on the study, the victim had a two-day history of sudden onset severe chest pain after a sports activity associated with dyspnea, diaphoresis, and myalgia and a one-week history of productive cough, hemoptysis, fever, and vomiting preceded this.
“Dalawang arteries sa kaniyang puso ang nabarahan. ‘Yung kaniyang lungs merong consolidation, ibig sabihin, nagdikit-dikit ‘yung loob ng lungs niya,” Domingo said.
It was also stated in the study that the 22-year-old did not have a history of cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, or illicit drug use, and did not have prior infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Based on the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), 14% or one in every seven students aged 13-15 years old is already using e-cigarettes daily— an age group younger than what is allowed by existing laws.
One major factor in the increase is easy access, as 77.1% of youth users bought such products from stores, stops, street vendors, or kiosks.
“Pag nagva-vape tayo, nauusukan ‘yung baga ‘yung pinapasukan ng oxygen, nahaharangan. Kaya mga kabataan, nakakasira ng puso ang vape, ‘di ba. ‘Yung puso ninyo, okay lang masaktan ng pag-ibig pero ‘wag ninyong saktan ng vape,” Domingo said./PN
