Research conducted by US scientists reveals the emergence of respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath, in young individuals who use e-cigarettes. While the long-term effects of vaping remain largely unknown, this study highlights potential risks associated with this popular alternative to traditional tobacco products.
The study involved 2,097 students with an average age of 17 who participated in the Southern California Children’s Health study between 2014 and 2018. These individuals were surveyed on their use of tobacco products and respiratory symptoms at multiple time points. The data analysis showed an increased risk of bronchitis and shortness of breath in teenagers and young adults who vape, regardless of their concurrent use of regular cigarettes or cannabis.
Findings of the Study
The analysis of data from 2,094 participants revealed a noticeable prevalence of wheezing and shortness of breath among e-cigarette users. The risk of wheezing was found to be 81% greater among vapers compared to non-vapers. Symptoms related to bronchitis and shortness of breath also showed significantly higher risks of 100% and 78% respectively. The findings remained statistically significant even after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, origin, concurrent cigarette and cannabis use, and passive smoking.
The study acknowledges its limitations as an observational research and highlights the need for further investigations to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between vaping and respiratory symptoms. Nevertheless, the researchers emphasize the importance of monitoring and considering the impact of vaping products on respiratory health.
“This study contributes to emerging evidence from human and toxicological studies that e-cigarettes cause respiratory symptoms that warrant consideration in regulation of e-cigarettes. It suggests that regulatory assessments of the population health cost underestimate the effects of late adolescent and young adult e-cigarette, cannabis, and tobacco product use,” conclude the researchers.
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