5 terrible health consequences of e-cigarettes.
(Baonghean.vn) - There is growing evidence that the use of e-cigarettes affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and increases the risk of cancer, dental problems, and other health issues.
Some specific health effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products:
1. E-cigarettes harm the respiratory system.
Reduced lung function and increased respiratory resistance were observed in e-cigarette users compared to non-users. Another cross-sectional study of 44,817 Canadian adults found that e-cigarette use was associated with a higher rate of obstructive pulmonary dysfunction. This rate was more than double in e-cigarette users compared to non-smokers who did not use e-cigarettes.
The use of e-cigarettes has been found to be linked to acute lung injury syndrome (ABS). In 2019 in the US, a series of cases of severe lung injury were recorded in e-cigarette users with no prior history of lung disease. The number of cases continued to rise, peaking at 2,807 hospitalizations in February 2020, including 68 deaths.
Studies have also shown that e-cigarettes may be linked to an increased severity of respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly in people who use both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Like adults, children and adolescents are at risk of respiratory illnesses associated with e-cigarettes. A study based on five large surveys of high school students in South Korea, Hong Kong (China), and the United States reported that the incidence of asthma, chronic cough, or chronic bronchitis was higher in students who had used e-cigarettes compared to students who had never used them.
2. Cardiovascular harms of e-cigarettes
Because e-cigarettes have only appeared in the last 10 years or so, their long-term health effects have not been fully assessed. However, there is growing evidence that e-cigarette use affects cardiovascular function. E-cigarettes can lead to vascular dysfunction, even with short-term inhalation.
Several studies have indicated that e-cigarette use is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and a history of stroke.
3. Cancer risk
Recent evidence suggests that e-cigarettes pose a risk of cancer. Aerosols produced by e-cigarettes can enhance the activity of cancer-causing enzymes, leading to DNA damage and cancer after long-term use. Not only aerosols, but also exposure to metals in e-cigarette liquids increases the risk of cancer.
Recent evidence has indicated that e-cigarettes cause DNA damage, increasing the risk of cancer. Additionally, e-cigarette use may increase chemotherapy resistance, enhancing cancer cell survival and requiring higher doses of chemotherapy.
4. Oral diseases
Regarding oral health, recent studies show that e-cigarette users have a much higher risk of gum disease, cavities, bone loss around the teeth, other periodontal diseases, oral mucosal damage, and infections compared to those who have never used them.
5. Other health risks
E-cigarettes can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, most commonly epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting, followed by diarrhea and gastrointestinal bleeding. Some cases of ulcerative colitis have been reported. Electronic devices can malfunction, fail, and cause fires, explosions, and injuries, posing a safety risk to users. Serious injuries have been recorded to the mouth, face, neck, eyes, nose, jawbone, etc.
Waste from electronic components and liquid containers impacts the environment due to the amount of solid waste released into the environment after use, especially with single-use devices.
Experts believe that tobacco products, whether traditional cigarettes or newer forms like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, are harmful to human health and are the cause of many dangerous diseases.
The World Health Organization advises that there is no safe threshold for the use of tobacco products and no type of tobacco is completely safe for health. New tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are not necessarily less harmful and are not intended to help people quit traditional cigarettes.