The Centers for Disease Control, for the first time, is telling people to stop using e-cigarettes, saying vaping is dangerous and it has led to 37 deaths nationwide, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The CDC's latest report shows there were 1,888 lung injury cases associated with e-cigarette products in 49 states, including Texas.
"The only way to assure that you are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products," the agency says in a statement.
Dr. Sandra Adams at San Antonio's UT Health, says quitting vaping isn't easy.
"One cartridge is worth a pack of cigarettes," she said. "It can be very difficult, it can be just as hard as stopping smoking."
She praises the CDC for making its recommendation that people stop vaping.
"Because we don't know the long term effects of vaping, it is hard to know how long, how much, and to what extent the lungs can heal."
She says that's because vaping is relatively new, and doctors aren't fully aware of its long term effect on the lungs and the respiratory system.
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