A new study has revealed that young people who use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are at risk of experiencing severe respiratory symptoms, such as bronchitis and shortness of breath, after only 30 days of use. The study, conducted by researchers from the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Southern California Keck School of Medicine, analyzed four years of data from online surveys to assess the health impact of e-cigarettes on teens and young adults.
The findings of the study, partly funded by the National Institutes of Health, support existing evidence that links e-cigarette use to an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The researchers urge drug regulators to consider these findings and take action to minimize the negative health effects of e-cigarette use among young people.
E-cigarettes have quickly addicted a new generation to nicotine, jeopardizing the health of millions of children, teens, and young adults, as well as undermining progress in reducing youth tobacco use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarette usage is now higher among youths and young adults than among adults overall in the United States. Sales of e-cigarettes have surged by almost 50% during the first two years of the Covid pandemic, fueled mainly by disposable products in appealing sweet and fruity flavors that are popular among teens.
Despite a federal crackdown on the marketing and flavors of tobacco products, manufacturers continue to flood the market with thousands of addictive products, many of which are sold illegally. Brands like Puff Bar, Elf Bar, and Breeze Smoke, which are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, have become more popular than the pioneering e-cigarette brand Juul.
Alayna Tackett, a pediatric psychologist and researcher at the Center for Tobacco Research, emphasizes that it is crucial for consumers to recognize that e-cigarettes are not risk-free. The goal should be to eliminate the initiation and use of e-cigarettes among young people to safeguard their health. However, Tackett also acknowledges that for adults, who often switch from using cigarettes to using e-cigarettes, there may be potentially fewer risks associated with e-cigarette use. Therefore, policies should be carefully considered to protect young people while supporting adults who are interested in adopting a potentially less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes.
To gather data for the study, the researchers followed over 2,000 young people with an average age of 17.3 years from the Southern California Children’s Health Study. They conducted online surveys in 2014, asking participants about their respiratory symptoms, as well as their use of e-cigarettes, traditional cigarettes, and cannabis. The majority of participants provided follow-up data during three additional survey waves in 2015, 2017, and 2018. The researchers found that past 30-day e-cigarette users had an 81% higher risk of experiencing wheeze, a 78% increased risk of shortness of breath, and a 50% higher risk of bronchitis symptoms compared to never users.
The link between e-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms was slightly weakened when the researchers accounted for factors such as co-use of e-cigarettes with traditional cigarettes or cannabis, and secondhand exposure to any of the products. However, the negative health effects of e-cigarette use, particularly bronchitis symptoms and shortness of breath, remained significant.
The study revealed that these negative health effects were not limited to participants with a history of asthma but were present in all participants. The researchers suggest that future studies should aim to objectively measure respiratory symptoms and product use, rather than relying on self-reported surveys.
In conclusion, this study provides further evidence of the harmful impact of e-cigarette use on the respiratory health of young people. Action should be taken to protect this vulnerable population from the risks associated with e-cigarettes, while also considering alternatives for adult smokers seeking less harmful options.
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