Dear HealthSmart,

I’ve noticed my teenage daughter smoking e-cigarettes and I’m worried about her health. I’ve heard a lot of recent buzz that they have proven harmful effects, particularly that the flavors she smokes can cause a life-threatening disease. Is this true? Should I just be thankful she’s not smoking real cigarettes?

HealthSmart asked Joseph Allen, Assistant Professor of Exposure Assessment Science at Harvard University School of Public Health. Here’s his response:

You’re correct to worry that e-cigarettes could be harmful to your daughter’s health. Just because they eliminate the harmful effects of tobacco doesn’t make them safe. Many of the e-cigarette flavors on the market contain the flavoring chemical Diacetyl, which when heated and inhaled can lead to the development of Bronchiolitis Obliterans. Bronchiolitis Obliterans is a life threatening, irreversible lung disease that causes an obstruction of the lung’s airways. Diacetyl is not just limited to e-cigarettes, and is used in many common products including butter flavored popcorn, dairy flavored goods, candies, and coffee, to name a few. What’s worrisome is that factory workers that produce these products receive warnings that the inhalation of heated diacetyl can lead to Bronchiolitis Obliterans, but e-cigarette consumers receive no such warning despite the fact that they are inhaling heated Diacetyl, just as factory workers are. I would recommend that your daughter stop using e-cigarettes for this reason, as well as that possible unknown damaging effects that have not been researched.

Dear HealthSmart,

Do birth control pills have any long-term effects? How does taking birth control for several years affect a woman’s fertility?

HealthSmart asked Dr. Glezer, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at University of California, and Reproductive Health Psychiatrist. Here’s her response:

There are currently no long-term studies that suggest taking birth control will affect a woman’s fertility. In fact, woman can and do become pregnant very shortly after stopping their hormonal birth control method. A positive long term effect of birth control pill use is that it reduced the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. If a woman is concerned about fertility, she should have a conversation with the gynecologist about best practices.

Dear HealthSmart,

What is IBS? What causes it?

HealthSmart asked Dr. Danielle Marino, M.D., Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology at University of Rochester School of Medicine. Here’s her response:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is an umbrella term that has a lot of underlying causes. One of the main reasons we see patients suffering from IBS is that their intestines are hypersensitive. The nerves in the gut of these individuals sense bacteria and elements of various foods and liquids more than a normal patient. Another very common cause of IBS is altered motility, meaning that their intestines are breaking down matter faster or slower than average. Thankfully IBS alone do not increase your risk of cancer, need for surgery, or lower your life expectancy. Many people do complain that it lowers the quality of their lives if they experience severe symptoms.

Do you have questions on health or wellness you’d like answered by the nation’s leading medical researchers? If so, you can send to Editor@WashNews.com. HealthSmart is a national newspaper column from the Washington News Service in DC. Due to demand, we are unable to reply to all inquiries. Responses through the column are no substitute for care from physicians or other medical professionals.

Copyright Ellen James Martin 2021