Vaping-Related Lung Injury (EVALI): What Grand Rapids Residents Should Know

Vaping-Related Lung Injury (EVALI) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Vaping is common among teens and young adults across Kent County, from high school and college students to young workers spending long Michigan winters indoors. EVALI is a serious lung condition tied to e-cigarette and vaping products, and it has hit young people in Grand Rapids’ age range especially hard. If you or someone you love vapes, knowing the warning signs and when to get care at a local hospital or clinic can make a real difference.

What EVALI Is

EVALI stands for e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury. It is a serious condition in which the lungs become damaged from substances inhaled through e-cigarettes or vaping products.

This is not a minor cough or a passing irritation. EVALI can become severe quickly. About 95% of reported patients were hospitalized, and as of February 2020 the CDC reported 2,807 hospitalized cases and 68 deaths in the United States.

The Role of Vitamin E Acetate

Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak. It is an additive used as a thickening agent in some THC-containing vaping products. The CDC found it in lung fluid samples from EVALI patients but did not find it in healthy comparison groups.

Most EVALI cases have been linked to THC-containing e-cigarette or vaping products, especially those obtained from informal sources such as friends, family, or in-person and online dealers. Products bought “off the street” or through unofficial sellers carry the highest risk because there is no way to know what is really inside them.

Symptoms to Watch For

EVALI symptoms can look like other illnesses at first, which is part of what makes it dangerous. Common respiratory symptoms include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

Some people also have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Other nonspecific symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, and weight loss. Because these signs overlap with colds, flu, and other West Michigan winter illnesses, a vaping history is an important clue for both patients and doctors.

Who Is Most at Risk

EVALI has disproportionately affected young people and males. Among hospitalized cases, the median age was about 24 years, and roughly two-thirds of patients were male. That means many of the people most affected are teens and young adults right in the Grand Rapids community, including students and young men who may not think of vaping as a serious health threat.

How EVALI Is Diagnosed

EVALI is a clinical diagnosis, meaning doctors put together your history, your symptoms, and imaging rather than relying on a single test. Diagnosis generally involves:

• A history of e-cigarette or vaping use within 90 days of symptom onset
• Lung infiltrates (areas of damage or fluid) seen on chest imaging
• The absence of another likely cause, such as an infection

If you go to a Grand Rapids emergency department, urgent care, or clinic with breathing problems, tell the staff honestly about any vaping, including THC products. That information helps clinicians reach the right diagnosis faster. Clinicians are also asked to report suspected cases to state or local health departments, such as the Kent County Health Department.

When to Get Care

People with symptoms of EVALI, especially those with a history of vaping, should seek medical care promptly. Do not wait to see if breathing trouble gets better on its own.

• For severe shortness of breath, chest pain, or any life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
• For non-emergency symptoms, contact your primary care provider, an urgent care, or a clinic such as Cherry Health.
• Local hospital systems including Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and University of Michigan Health-West can evaluate and treat serious lung problems.

How to Lower Your Risk

The CDC and FDA recommend clear steps to protect your lungs:

• Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette or vaping products, particularly those from informal sources like friends, family, or dealers.
• Never add other substances or chemicals to vaping products yourself.
• Never modify products you bought in stores.

The CDC also offers guidance based on your situation:

• Adults who started vaping to quit smoking should not return to cigarettes.
• Youth, young adults, and people who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette or vaping products at all.

Quitting vaping can be hard, and that is normal. If stress, anxiety, or a mental-health crisis is part of the picture, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and Network180 offers behavioral health support in Kent County. Choosing to stop using risky vaping products is one of the most direct ways to protect your lungs and your future.