Buyer beware: Vaping products are being illegally sold with unproven “wellness” claims
Several e-cigarette companies are marketing their vaping products to consumers with claims to:
Improve your immune system
Improve sleep
Treat anxiety and depression
Increase energy
And more
Companies are even stating that their vape products contain vitamins and supplements to improve your health. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it probably is. These fraudulent claims lack scientific evidence supporting any health benefits from inhaling vitamins and herbal supplements. No known research has shown whether inhaling an herbal supplement provides the same benefit as ingesting it.
For a list of claims that are being made by e-cigarette marketers, view Table 1 by the National Library of Medicine.
Unfortunately, these health scams are leaving uninformed consumers with the impression that vaping can be associated with a healthy lifestyle. Vaping has a negative impact on your health, and those around you. The risks of vaping are similar to those of smoking cigarettes:
increased chance of irreversible respiratory disease
increased chance of chemical toxicity
increased overall risk for cancer
lifelong addiction
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages consumers to take precautions:
Does the claim seem too good to be true or seem like a quick fix? Make sure the claims are supported by published research or recommendations by independent medical professionals.
If you are considering using any product being sold as a “wellness” remedy, or one that makes claims to treat medical conditions, talk to your health care professional first. The product may have potentially serious interactions with other medications or treatments. Even “all natural” ingredients can have strong, life-threatening biological effects.
Look for current safety alerts, recalls and product warnings. Check government and consumer protection groups for news and safety alerts about vaping products.
Learn more about the actions the FDA is taking to prevent these dangerous products from reaching consumers >
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