Written by Jessica Skinner, Behavioral Health Provider at the Family Health Clinic. By the year 2030, almost one-fifth of the American population is expected to be 65 years or older. People are living longer and fuller lives; however many are living with chronic conditions that require extra care and assistance on a daily basis. The type of care that people receive can greatly impact not only their quality of life, but their overall well-being and the costs of their care over time.

In September, the first Indiana resident died from vaping-associated lung injury. This is one of 530 confirmed cases and eight deaths in the US of similar lung injury. This non-infectious, toxic pneumonitis can present as acute airway injury, alveolar edema, or respiratory failure. Pulmonary infiltrates are visible as opacities on chest x-rays and as glass shards on chest CT scans. Research by the FDA and CDC is ongoing to identify what induces this alarming injury.