Four E-cigarette Health Risks for Kids
Vaping with electronic cigarettes is now commonplace but it is believed to be a smokescreen hiding its true effects on health. Evidence mounting suggests that using e-cigarettes or vaping, can be more harmful in comparison to smoking cigarettes.
A vape cigarette, also known as an e-cigarette pen is an electronic product that is heated by a pod of liquid and turns into a vapor that is infused with flavors, nicotine, and various other components. The issue is what chemicals are present in the liquid being inhaled and vaporized, and how they affect users, especially teenagers. Over one in nine high school students across the U.S. report vaping daily.
Here are four health hazards.
E-cigarettes contain dangerous chemicals.
Although smoking tobacco has long been linked to cancer the health risks of vaping are only just becoming apparent as e-cigarettes remain unregulated. What we know about the substances found in a variety of vape pens:
An FDA examination of e-cigarettes of two top brands showed that the products contained carcinogens and other harmful chemicals, such as diethylene glycol. It is present in antifreeze. These chemicals pose a risk to both adults and adolescents.
A study from Greek researchers discovered that electronic cigarettes caused breathing problems in smokers and non-smokers in all age groups.
A group of researchers based in France discovered that electronic cigarettes contain “potentially carcinogenic substances.”
The British Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and the United States Surgeon General have all issued cautions about the dangers related to electronic cigarettes.
Vaping affects the brain’s development.
Children’s brains are developing and more prone to addiction, and E-cigarettes are an easy way to smoke nicotine. It is much more dependent than heroin, cocaine, or alcohol. Some brands of electronic cigarettes contain an extremely high amount of nicotine. It’s more than double the amount present in traditional cigarettes and other electronic cigarettes. Nicotine when combined with a developing brain may result in addiction, diminished emotional control, and mood problems. Nicotine is also detrimental to the prefrontal cortex, which is the brain region that is responsible for decision-making, attention judgment, and planning.
Nicotine is equally harmful to adults and can harm the health of your heart.
Nicotine can:
The increase in blood pressure can also raise the heart rate
Narrow arteries
Heart attack can be caused by the contraction of the arterial wall.
A lot of vape pens are employed to inhale THC which is the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. It is believed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes the exposure of THC and the combination of THC nicotine, nicotine along vitamin E which is an ingredient found in many vape carts could cause lung injuries.
Vaping has been linked with lung damage.
As of September 19, there were 530 lung damage and seven deaths related to vaping were recorded within the U.S. Signs of lung injury caused by vaping include:
The coughing can be extremely rapid.
Breathing difficulties
Weight loss
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Doctors have linked these symptoms to the accumulation of white blood cells within the lung. THC along with CBD an additional key ingredient found in cannabis is heated as oil in a vape pen before becoming vapor and then smoke.
If your child displays any of these signs and is using vape pens, bring them to an emergency room with the pen and cartridge that they used. Do this immediately.
Vaping misperceptions can make it difficult to judge its risk.
It’s a dream for marketers as well as the nightmare of parents.
The kids are under the impression that smoking cigarettes are safe.
The pods are available in a range of child-friendly flavors that are better than tobacco’s flavor.
Electronic cigarettes are compact and can be concealed easily. The JUUL is as if it’s a USB flash drive, and is easily hidden in pockets or the palm of your in the palm of your hand.
Vaping is more convenient indoors, for instance, in bathrooms at school, in bedrooms, or even in classrooms, with no being detected.
Vaping has become a popular pastime and children are exposed to their peers as well as images of celebrities smoking, making the practice “cool.” Pressure from peers encourages kids to experiment and they soon become quickly addicted.
The study, published in Pediatrics shows that children who use vape cigarettes have a six-fold higher chance of frequently smoke tobacco during young adulthood.
Discuss with your children -and your loved ones to educate them about the dangers of smoking cigarettes. If they’re already hooked, assist them by providing counseling. The health of their future could depend on it.
-” Kay Lofgren, MA, LCPC case therapist at Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health, contributed to this piece.