Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
What are the risks and side effects of JUUL (e-cigarettes)?
A JUUL is a type of e-cigarette or vape pen that has risen to prominence primarily because of its high power and discrete appearance. Juuling can cause a variety of side effects, including coughing, headache, and a sore throat. Longer term use also has similar health issues.
JUULs and other vape pens are less dangerous than cigarettes, but individuals should be mindful that they bear their own risks with these products. Nicotine and many other chemicals are also found in them, which means they are not a healthier alternative to cigarettes.
Keep reading, including the related dangers and side effects, to learn more about JUULs.
What is a JUUL?

A JUUL is a type of e-cigarette which, without using fire and smoke, delivers nicotine to the lungs. The device looks very similar to a pen or USB flash drive and is long and slender.
Vaping devices such as JUULs include a heating element and a liquid source, called vape juice, which contains nicotine, as with other e-cigarettes.
JUUL is actually the name of unique e-cigarette products developed by JUUL Laboratories, although several individuals now use the term in reference to the vape pens of other manufacturers.
The vape juice is vaporized by triggering the device, supplying the nicotine as vapor to the lungs when the person inhales.
E-cigarette risks and side effects
Burning a cigarette and inhaling the smoke adds numerous chemicals and compounds to the lungs and bloodstream, increasing a person’s risk for a variety of health problems.
E-cigarettes fully eliminate this smoke, delivering vaporized nicotine through a heating element instead. Vaporizing the e-cigarette vape juice compounds, however, can carry its own side effects and health risks.
Common side effects
Side effects from the use of e-cigarettes are common. Using e-cigarettes, JUULs, or other devices with vaporizers may cause:
When a person first begins using vape items, these side effects may be more frequent, and they may go away with time. If the person stops using vape devices, they will also go away.
Particles Ultrafine
Vaporizing e-cigarette juice produces very tiny particles and aerosols that are vaporized. These ultrafine particles, including the smallest airways, called bronchioles, may reach deep into the lungs.
Particles in these bronchioles, leading to scarring of these tissues, can cause damage and inflammation.
In addition , a study in Pediatrics states that these ultrafine particles may find their way into the circulatory system, possibly causing cardiovascular disease and inflammation.
Other nicotine use
Using e-cigarettes does not guarantee that cigarettes will not be used by an individual. In certain cases, nonsmokers and young people might potentially use e-cigarettes to lead them to use other items, such as cigarettes.
Smoking other products in the body can result in even more nicotine, making it more difficult to quit any type of the drug.
Long-term risks
Vape devices are relatively new and it is still hard to grasp the long-term dangers. The body is exposed to many potentially harmful substances by e-cigarettes and vaping products, and long-term exposure to these substances can bring its own risks.
The potential dangers of long-term exposure to these substances include the following:
- respiratory issues
- damage to the lung tissue
- reproductive issues
- circulatory issues
However, there is still too little study to make any broad statements when it comes to linking e-cigarettes directly to long-term risk.
Other risks
E-cigarettes also expose the body to nicotine, which is a substance that is addictive. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services states that there are other dangerous compounds in the liquid juice that the person inhales into his or her lungs, such as:
- volatile organic compounds
- heavy metals, such as tin, lead, and nickel
- natural and artificial flavorants that may contain harmful ingredients
- carbonyl compounds
How is a JUUL different?
While products branded by JUUL and similar devices can feel different from larger vape pens or other devices, they function in much the same way. A heating element heats the vape juice until it vaporizes, and this vapor is inhaled into the lungs by the person.
Vape pens, like JUULs, are more discreet compared to other options. They create minimal vapor, and the vapor that the person exhales evaporates and disappears rapidly.
Often, the devices themselves are more discrete. In a pocket or purse, a person can easily conceal a JUUL, and it looks identical to a pen or flash drive.
Owing to their convenient access to numerous flavors and solutions, Vape pens and JUULs are also distinct. Other devices may require a person to mix their own solution or refill the device as the solution runs out.
Cartridges or pods that connect to the device in seconds are supported by Vape pens and JUULs.
JUUL devices contain a patented mix of nicotine salts rather than free nicotine, mimicking the feeling of using tobacco.
JUUL risks and side effects
JUUL has various health risks and side effects, as with other e-cigarettes and vape pens, including:
Overuse and high nicotine
JUUL products and other vape pens have a risk for abuse and overuse. A 5 percent nicotine-containing JUUL pod is equivalent to one pack of cigarettes. Less nicotine is offered by several other companies and vape juices, as they are made for people trying to wean themselves off tobacco.
When selecting these vape pens over other e-cigarettes, frequent JUUL users can expose themselves to much higher nicotine levels.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that individuals who use these vape pens may become addicted quicker than individuals who smoke cigarettes.
Nicotine toxicity and seizures
High nicotine levels in JUUL pens can also, with daily usage, increase the risk of nicotine toxicity. Serious health effects, such as seizures and neurological disorders, can result from this toxicity. Vape pen use has been related to many cases of seizures by the FDA.
Teen use
Specifically, JUUL items often tend to appeal to young teens. The reasons for this may include the discreet nature of the device, the pleasant taste, and the high potency that contributes to a “high.”
The FDA warned Juul Labs in 2019 about their ads, which included youth outreach and other practices aimed at young adolescents, including the promotion of enticing flavors such as mango and fruit medley.
The company also made false claims that, without presenting any evidence for this assertion, their product was a healthier alternative to cigarettes.
In recent years, the use of vape pens by teens has increased. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that e-cigarette use rose from 1.5 percent in 2011 to more than 20 percent in 2018 among high school students. This figure went from 0.6 percent to 4.9 percent during the same time for middle-school students.
The use of nicotine products by teens can be particularly harmful. Nicotine can rapidly lead to addiction in a developing brain. In addition, nicotine can damage the brain growth of the adolescent.
Addiction and nicotine use may also lead to changes in behavior, reduced impulse control, or mood fluctuations.
Alternatives
There is no absolutely safe method of intake of nicotine.
Originally, e-cigarettes were intended by manufacturers to help smokers wean themselves from the use of nicotine and tobacco. The premise was that these devices would help the user quit by using far lower levels of nicotine while offering a similar experience to smoking.
Nowadays, products are a common alternative to smoking, but they are not risk-free.
Those trying to quit smoking or vape devices can begin to wean themselves off the habit by using vape juice with lower nicotine levels.
Other nicotine products can provide an option to help a person quit, such as patches and gums.
When to see a doctor
Anyone trying to cope with nicotine use should see a doctor. They might be able to provide more guidance on how to immediately wean the body off nicotine or leave.
Anyone noticing symptoms, such as constant cough or trouble breathing, should also see a doctor for a diagnosis after using JUUL pens.
Summary
An alternative to smoking is JUUL pens. They are not healthy, even though they remove combustion and tobacco, since they still deliver large levels of nicotine.
These devices provide an addictive substance, and both short-term and long-term side effects and risks are associated with them. It will take time to conduct direct research into the long-term consequences of using JUUL.
Anyone who is worried about their symptoms or potential addiction to nicotine may want to talk to a doctor.
Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Rhinophyma: Everything you should know
Rhinophyma is a skin condition that causes the nose to expand. Lumpy, thicker skin and fractured blood vessels are some of the other signs.
Males are far more likely than females to get the condition, which usually occurs between the ages of 50 and 70.
Researchers aren’t sure what causes it, but they do know that acne rosacea, which causes inflammatory pimple breakouts, is a precursor.
When acne rosacea advances to rhinophyma, the skin around the nose swells and the tip of the nose becomes larger. A diagnosis is made based on this distinctive appearance.
In the early stages, medicines are used, but in the latter stages, surgery is required. This is due to the possibility of damaged tissue obstructing the airways. The technique is safe and effective at smoothing or removing rough, thickened patches of skin.
Continue reading to find out more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.
Causes of rhinophyma
Rhinophyma is characterized by an increase in the number of sebaceous glands (oil glands) and underlying connective tissues in the face. According to studies from 2021, the actual cause is still unknown, and various causes could be involved. A variety of disorders affecting the immune system, nerves, and blood arteries are included.
Acne rosacea, a long-term skin condition more common in women, is the prelude to rhinophyma. Rhinophyma develops in a subset of acne rosacea people.
Rhinophyma is more common in men, with a male-to-female ratio ranging from 5:1 to 30:1, and it usually develops in people between the ages of 50 and 70. Scientists believe that male hormones raise the danger because of the higher prevalence in men.
Some people believe that drinking alcohol causes the condition, however studies show that this is not the case. However, both alcohol and caffeine enlarge blood vessels briefly, aggravating rhinophyma.
In its early beginnings
According to evidence, rhinophyma begins as “pre-rosacea,” with face flushing being the only symptom.
The condition progresses to vascular rosacea, which is characterized by enlarged blood vessels and redness. Acne rosacea causes later, resulting in inflammatory outbreaks.
Finally, acne rosacea progresses to late-stage rosacea, which includes rhinophyma.
Symptoms
The first symptom of rosacea is frequently excessive face flushing. If it evolves to rhinophyma, a person may experience the following symptoms:
- thickened skin on the nose and elsewhere on the face
- expansion of the tip of the nose
- a bumpy texture on areas of the face
- enlarged pores
- oily skin
The condition may restrict the airways at this moment. In addition, because the fluid from the sebaceous glands thickens and can contain bacteria, persistent infection is common.
The amount of sebaceous glands and connective tissue alterations grow with time, resulting in increasing deformity.
Furthermore, there is a relation to cancer. Basal cell carcinoma affects 3–10% of people with rhinophyma, despite the fact that the condition is initially benign.
Diagnosis
Rhinophyma is often diagnosed with a visual examination due to its distinctive look.
The presence of at least one primary feature and at least one secondary feature is used by doctors to make a diagnosis.
The following are the main characteristics:
- blushing
- persistent redness
- pustules, small pimples containing pus
- papules — small, solid pimples that are usually inflamed but do not produce pus
- broken or dilated blood vessels near the skin’s surface
Secondary features include:
- roughened patches of skin on the face
- swelling
- burning or stinging areas of the skin
- eye symptoms, such as watery eyes or swelling of the eyelids
- marked thickening of skin or excess tissue
- these symptoms elsewhere on the body
Treatment
There are nonsurgical and surgical options available.
Non-surgical options
Certain drugs appear to be beneficial, according to the findings. Topical metronidazole (Metrocream) is one option for reducing skin inflammation by preventing the production of reactive oxygen species.
Isotretinoin, a medicine that shrinks the sebaceous glands and reduces the amount of oil they produce, is another choice. If a person wants surgery, however, they must stop taking this drug.
Surgical intervention
Advanced rhinophyma necessitates surgical removal of the afflicted tissue. A report published in 2020 describes a five-step surgical procedure for rhinophyma that is both safe and effective:
- Dermabrasion: A motorized device resurfaces the skin to facilitate the next steps.
- Dermaplaning: This involves removing affected tissue without directly cutting it. It prepares the skin’s surface for the third step.
- Debulking: The surgeon uses curved scissors to cut away the thickened skin. They also take samples of any areas that may be malignant and send them to a lab for analysis.
- Electrocautery: This involves using heat to destroy the affected tissue.
- Laser use: This final step seals and micro-contours the wound.
Although little data suggests that rhinophyma can recur following surgery, few long-term studies have been conducted.
Conclusion
A person with rhinophyma may suffer significant face flushing in the early stages. Swollen blood vessels and acne-like blemishes occur as the condition worsens.
Later on, the nasal skin thickens and the tip of the nose expands. Doctors diagnose rhinophyma at this point. It appears to be harmless at first, but it has the potential to obstruct airways and raise the risk of skin cancer.
Surgical and drug-based treatments can help, although there is limited evidence that the condition will reoccur after surgery.
Sources
- https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/ocular-rosacea-facts
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7339328/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544373/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322166
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4426765/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5828925/
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/symptoms
Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Marijuana: What are the common health benefits?
Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Alcohol and migraine: What you need to understand
Many people with migraine find that specific situations trigger their symptoms. Drinking alcohol is a trigger for some people with migraine. Although any type of alcohol can provoke a migraine, people who experience recurrent migraine attacks cite red wine as the most frequent reason.
Research suggests that people with migraine may also suffer comparable symptoms after a hangover. Reducing or eliminating alcohol may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. It may also help reduce factors that tend to co-occur with drinking, such as dehydration and sleep deprivation.
Keep reading to understand more about the connection between migraine and headache.
Is alcohol capable of causing migraines?

Migraine is a form of neurological disorder. Although hereditary factors impact the chance of developing migraine, environmental triggers can cause episodes or increase their frequency.
Several studies show that alcohol, especially red wine, may cause migraine episodes.
In a 2018 research including 2,197 adults with migraine, 25% of the participants who had discontinued or always avoided drinking did so because alcohol induced migraine symptoms. More than a third of the subjects stated that alcohol had this impact, with roughly 78% indicating red wine as the most prevalent alcohol trigger.
A 2019 research questioned patients with migraine who consumed alcohol. Of the 1,547 individuals, 783 claimed that alcohol was a trigger, while 195 were not sure. People who experienced migraine with alcohol were more likely to suffer migraine with aura and to experience more migraine days and more frequent episodes. They were also more prone to drink vodka.
A predisposition for migraine may also play a role in hangovers, especially hangovers that induce migraine-like headaches. A 2014 study of 692 students, 95 of whom experienced migraine, indicated that individuals with migraine were more likely to suffer migraine-like symptoms during a hangover. However, these people were not more prone to other hangover symptoms.
Alcohol may also create other sorts of headaches. People who get a headache after drinking should not assume that it is a migraine, especially if they have symptoms associated with other forms of headaches. For example, a stress headache may induce pain in the neck or shoulders.
Other alcohol-related headaches
Migraine creates a unique form of headache that incorporates neurological symptoms such as light sensitivity and aura. Other sorts of headaches, including severe headaches, can occur as a result of alcohol intake.
Hangover headache
A headache is a frequent hangover symptom. Alcohol can provoke symptoms in persons with a headache disease, but it can also directly induce headaches.
A 2015 study shows that the inactivity of alcohol dehydrogenase 2, an enzyme that helps break down alcohol, can contribute to hangover headaches. However, the research author also notes that no one factor causes all hangover headaches.
Tension headache
A 2016 study emphasizes that drinking may induce a tension headache, especially if a person simultaneously suffers migraine. The research revealed that 21 percent of persons with migraine indicate that alcohol is a tension headache trigger, compared with just 2 percent of people without migraine.
Cluster headache
Alcohol may provoke cluster headaches. These headaches induce very strong pain that generally predominantly affects the region behind one eye. More than half of individuals who get cluster headaches indicate that alcohol is a trigger.
Dehydration headache
Alcohol increases urine, which can contribute to dehydration. Moreover, persons who drink alcohol may not drink as much water, exacerbating the water loss. Dehydration can induce headaches. It may also provoke headaches connected to headache diseases, such as migraine.
What alcohol to consume to avoid migraine attacks
Most research point to red wine as a prevalent headache trigger, particularly in those with migraine. These individuals typically report wine, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger.
However, a 2012 research denies this relationship. This prospective research looked at migraine diaries extending up to 90 days. Wine, beer, and spirits did not enhance the risk of migraine with aura, while sparkling wine did.
People who have hangovers that induce a migraine may desire to avoid alcohol with high amounts of congeners. These are compounds that the alcohol production process creates. Some study shows that congeners have a role in hangovers, however variables like as inflammation also contribute.
Brandy, red wine, and rum have the largest quantities of congeners, whereas gin and vodka have fewer of these compounds. However, a 2019 study reported greater rates of vodka use among drinkers with recurrent migraine symptoms. The reaction to alcohol varies from person to person, and there is no drink that certainly will not trigger a migraine or other headache.
Other migraine-prevention options
Identifying and limiting or eliminating common migraine triggers such as alcohol, dehydration, and specific meals is the first step in preventing migraine. For a few weeks, a person should keep a migraine diary to detect trends in their headache patterns.
Stress-related migraines may be relieved with relaxation techniques, and migraine episodes may feel less severe when they occur.
Migraine prophylaxis drugs such as topiramate (Topamax), divalproex (Depakote), or propranolol may be useful for people who suffer frequent migraine attacks (Inderal). They can talk to a doctor about these therapy alternatives.
People who suffer from migraines while or after drinking may consider limiting or eliminating alcohol from their diet. If they find this too difficult, they may be suffering from an alcohol use disorder, which need therapy.
Conclusion
Migraine attacks can range from minor inconveniences to complete debilitation. The most severe migraine headaches can last up to three days and render you unable to work. In rare cases, a migraine attack can persist much longer.
Migraine is a complicated disorder, and migraine-like symptoms can be caused by a variety of neurological conditions. As a result, whether you’re drinking or not, it’s critical to consult a doctor if you’re experiencing migraine symptoms or chronic headaches. Migraine headaches can be treated with the appropriate combination of medicines and lifestyle changes.
People who are unable to stop drinking should consult a physician about alcohol use disorder treatment, which is a serious but treatable problem.
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8280611/
- https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/head.12621
- https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p17.html
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alcohol-and-migraine
- https://www.proquest.com/openview/dc644a5c531eaf1bd4ca19f1ea95890a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=136155
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ene.13861
- https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/54/3/196/5420612?login=true
- https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/alcohol-and-migraine/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4821937/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5537780/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560787/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22671771/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064176/