You know why is electronic cigarette (vape) harmful to health? Electronic cigarettes, like conventional cigarettes, cause damage to health because they expose the individual to various harmful substances. In Brazil, the sale of these cigarettes is prohibited, as well as their advertising and importation, however it is not difficult to find the product being sold illegally.
Very popular among teenagers and young adults, e-cigarettes can cause serious lung damage and lead to nicotine addiction. In addition, it can cause damage to the oral mucosa, irritation of the throat and eyes, rhinitis, pneumonia and other conditions.
Read too: What are the risks of hookah use?
Topics of this article
- 1 - What is electronic cigarette?
- 2 - What harm does the use of electronic cigarettes?
What is electronic cigarette?
Electronic cigarette, also known as e-cigarette or vaporizer/vape, is a device that has a battery and a liquid solution that contains different chemicals, such as nicotine, which stands out for its high potential to cause addiction.
According to the article by Martin et al. The relationship between the use of electronic cigarettesronics and lung diseases: an integrative review, electronic cigarettes are defined as:
cigarettes consisting of a lithium battery, a sensor, a microprocessor, refill or cartridge, a liquid solution (also called e-liquid), an atomizer responsible for heating and vaporizing this liquid solution and a mouthpiece for inhalation.
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Since their inception, electronic cigarettes have have undergone major changes. According to the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), they can be understood as follows:
First generation: consists of disposable and non-refillable products, which have a shape that resembles a common cigarette.
Second generation: it features a rechargeable battery and its cartridges can be replaced by others pre-filled with different substances.
Third generation: is known for tank, as it has a reservoir that can be filled with nicotine and even other drugs.
Fourth generation: consists of an electronic cigarette with a Pod system, which resembles a pendrive. They can be used with capsule refills, which feature different flavored liquids.
Although the sale is prohibited in the Brazil, what is observed is a increased consumption of this product, especially by adolescents and young adults. According to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), the use of electronic cigarettes increases by more than three times the risk of trying conventional cigarettes and more than four times the risk of using cigarettes.
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What harm does the use of electronic cigarettes?
the use of cigarette is a risk factor for the development of different pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and for the emergence of different types of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, esophagus, larynx and pancreas.
Due to the serious health problems caused by the use of conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes have emerged, being sold as products that present less risk to health, for, among other reasons, there is no combustion during their use.
However, despite the promise of causing less damage to health, electronic cigarettes are also harmful, because releases a vapor that contains toxic products. This is due to the fact that the e-liquid may contain solvents such as propylene glycol and glycerin, as well as nicotine, flavoring essences, additives, heavy metals and even other drugs, such as marihuana liquid.
Some of its substances are known for their carcinogenic and cytotoxic action. Nicotine, for example, is linked to more than 50 different diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Studies of the long-term effect of using electronic cigarettes have not yet been carried out, due to the short time on the market for these products. However, in the short term, we can cite problems such as development of severe lung damage.
These lesions are known as Evali (e-cigarette or vaping product useassociated lung injury or, in Portuguese, respiratory disease associated with the use of electronic cigarettes or vaping). Evali causes symptoms such as cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, chills, weight loss, fever, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Evali can cause death.
The use of electronic cigarettes also he can cause other problems, as:
eye and throat irritation;
difficulty swallowing;
cough;
rhinitis;
pneumonia;
asthma;
injuries to the oral mucosa;
feeling of stress.
In addition, the use of electronic cigarettes can lead to nicotine addiction, increase the risk of initiation of young people and adolescents tosmoking and enable the use of other drugs. We must also mention the traumatic injuries caused by device explosions.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
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