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E-Cigarettes Could Be Causing More Harm Than Good!

by — Last updated: 2020-07-02 in Respiratory tract disorders and diseases

Using an e-cigarette is called ‘vaping’, and many health authorities are concerned that this could increase the number of people using them, as it is considered a trend, particularly amongst young people.

If you have ever been a cigarette smoker, you will know how addictive it is and how difficult it is to quit. There are many products available to assist with smoking cessation, including nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and medications. In recent times however, a new product called an e-cigarette has emerged, and this has been causing a bit of fuss amongst health organizations.

E-Cigarettes

An e-cigarette closely resembles a regular cigarette, with even an end that glows when you inhale. The main difference is that the e-cigarette does not produce smoke, as the cartridge contents are not combustible. For this reason, people were encouraged to use them instead, believing them to be much safer, as it was considered to be the smoke that causes the most damage to the lungs.

Instead of smoke, e-cigarettes produce a vapor which is inhaled. There are around 7,000 flavors available, and almost 500 different brands of e-cigarettes, but they all work basically the same. They contain a battery which is either disposable or rechargeable, an element and a cartridge containing nicotine as well as other flavorings and liquids. Some of these cartridges are refillable, or you simply buy replacement ones.

Using an e-cigarette is called ‘vaping’, and many health authorities are concerned that this could increase the number of people using them, as it is considered a trend, particularly amongst young people. Although vaping is safer to some degree than smoking regular cigarettes, they do still contain nicotine, and some are concerned that vaping could lead to people picking up a smoking habit.

When quitting smoking, it is the withdrawal effects that usually hinder any progress. Physical effects such as anxiety, restlessness, depression and irritability are often what prevent a smoker from stopping, and a lot of them end up smoking again. Because the e-cigarette also contains nicotine, the addictive agent, when a person try’s to quit vaping they can experience those same withdrawal effects.

For decades, authorities have been trying to get people to stop smoking due to the harmful effects and serious health risks. In many places smoking is banned, and this has helped to make it less appealing, as it becomes harder for a smoker to find somewhere socially where it is acceptable. Programs have been initiated in schools to prevent children from starting in the first place, and many health organizations have dedicated smoking cessation programs.

READ Exposing Ten Little-Known Facts About E-Cigarettes

The health effects of smoking have a massive impact on the health systems of all countries around the world. With diseases such as cancer and heart disease being those that cause the highest mortality rate, and there being a definitive link between them and smoking, getting people to quit is imperative.

E-Cigarettes: Research Studies And Concerns

Vaping Mice

An American study into the effects of e-cigarette vapor on mice showed worrying findings. The mice were divided into two groups, with one being exposed to the vapor for a period of two weeks. The exposure of the mice to the vapor showed that there was some detrimental effect on the lungs. The damage caused included inflammation of the lung tissue and damage to protein.

These mice were also unable to clear any bacteria from their lungs, and this resulted in viral infection. Many of these mice ended up losing weight and some even died. It was discovered that their immune system had been compromised, and they were unable to fight off infection.

Another discovery was the presence of what are called ‘free radicals’ in the vapor. Although this was only at a fraction of what is found in regular cigarette smoke, it was still enough to damage cells and DNA. Damage to the DNA could possibly lead to cancer, so the question that needed answering, was whether or not e-cigarettes were safe at all.

Human Testing

Because of the potential harm the free radicals in e-cigarettes can cause the cells in the human body, more extensive research is required to determine how high this risk is. One such study has been undertaken by researchers from the University of California. By creating an extract form the vapor of e-cigarettes, they have then applied to human cells in a laboratory.

The results showed that there was DNA damage to the cells, and they died a lot quicker than those not exposed to the vapor. Even those that contained no nicotine still showed more strand breaks of the DNA by 50%. The e-cigarettes that contained nicotine, caused triple the amount of damage over an eight week period.

Therefore, the results of this particular study showed that the e-cigarettes could be causing a lot more harm than good, and that people were no better off than if they were smoking regular cigarettes. Public Health England has been urging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, whereas the World Health Organization has some concerns, which shows that even the health authorities are divided over the safety issue of vaping.

It is well-known that nicotine causes cell damage, but if damage was still occurring in those e-cigarettes that are nicotine-free, there must be other components in the vapor that are to blame as well. This has led scientists to look deeper into the chemicals found in the vapor cartridges, and one of these chemicals is formaldehyde, which is known to be a carcinogen. Another chemical in the vapor that has been linked to lung disease is diacetyl.

READ Why Some Health Experts Believe E-Cigarettes May Actually Be A Good Thing

Conclusion

There are an estimated 25,000 deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) related to smoking in the UK each year. Those with COPD are strongly urged to give up smoking, and some health authorities have suggested these people use e-cigarettes as a means to quit. In some cases, this may be better for the patient, as the lung disease is already present, so the low rate of damage by the e-cigarette is going to be easier to manage than the serious damage caused by regular cigarettes.

As further human studies are being conducted, the long-term effects of e-cigarettes will become better known, and researchers will know whether or not they are safe to use over a period of time. In the meantime, follow your health provider’s instructions and advice. And if you are not a smoker, don’t start vaping!

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