Scientific evidence suggests that the increasing use of e-cigarettes among the teenage vape community might lead to pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, increasing in intensity over time. The news was seen in the peer-review journal of the American Heart Association.
For those unaware, a scientific statement comes as an expert analysis which can lead to learning new clinical practices and guidelines for the future. This statement, marked as “Cardiopulmonary Consequences of Vaping in Adolescents,” portrays what is believed by experts in vascular and cellular biology basic science, toxicology, epidemiology, and pharmacology. They have reviewed various studies based on evidence focusing on e-cigarettes affecting the cardiopulmonary systems in young vapers. In addition, the experts have elaborated what the short and long-term risks of vaping can be on standby among young communities.
According to Loren E.Wold, who is a Ph.D. and also chairs the writing group for the scientific statement, for most of the studies related to e-cigarettes, animals or adults were the test subjects. It is important that we also learn what effects are imposed on the organ systems of younger people who are involved in using e-cigarettes, especially what these effects lead to when adulthood is achieved.
Loren is also in compliance with the Ohio State University’s (Columbus, Ohio) College of Medicine and is an associate dean for research operations.
ENDS or electronic nicotine delivery systems are comprised of cartridges having an e-liquid in a reservoir, a heating element called the atomizer, a battery, and pods. An aerosol is delivered to the user for inhaling by these devices, which is cannabis’s key psychoactive compound, THC or nicotine. These ENDS mostly resemble hookah, cigars pipes, and cigarettes, and are mostly available as e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are found to have the latest shape of a USB flash drive device which is quite popular among youngsters in their teenage. Vape devices are evolving in shapes and designs, a marketing tactic. The high nicotine content is present in a salty form, and various other chemicals are mixed with e-liquids.
E-cigarettes entered the market at the beginning of the 2000s and have been a reason why the decreasing ratios of tobacco users in young adults reversed. The same was noted for combustible cigarette users and nicotine dependency. Figures from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey show that 27.5% and 10.5% of students in grades 9 to 12 and 6 to 8 were part of various teenage vape communities. According to the scientific statement from the association, combustible cigarettes have never been smoked by almost all e-cigarette users. However, they are at a higher risk of becoming permanent tobacco or nicotine users. Moreover, the diseases caused by vaping at an early age are also unknown and un-relatable so far.
The effects of e-cigarettes on the heart and lungs are hard to find because most manufacturers are not disclosing the ingredients of their products. So far, the composition of these products remains unclear in totality. E-liquids also contain propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, listed as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. It is important to know that these compounds are on the GRAS list in their whole form, not when inhaled. When inhaled, their effects are yet to be determined as the compounds are often seen breaking down into carcinogens like formaldehyde.
Wold revealed that lung development generally continues till the early 20s, and any youngster involved in vaping before his 20s is risking his lungs’ complete development. This is because any foreign substance being inhaled affects the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Around 04 respiratory issues are commonly arising in e-cigarette users. A higher prevalence of asthma, increased cough and wheezing, higher incidences of breathing diseases, and more susceptibility to lung infections.
Moreover, higher heart rate, blood pressure, impaired blood vessel functions, and arterial stiffness are also observed in youngsters using e-cigarettes. Such conclusions lead to believing that with longer use of e-cigarettes, the acute cardiovascular effects may result in cardiovascular diseases.
Youngsters often falsely assume that vaping is not harming their health. On the contrary, the aerosols from e-cigarettes are affecting their heart cells in the long term and pose a higher threat of heart diseases. Although occurring after decades of smoking, people have been observed with chronic and strong pulmonary problems, and the same is highly probable for vaping as well.
The committee for writing the statement also observed that while the biggest threats posed by vaping are the cardiopulmonary problems, another consequence of the same importance is the long-term adverse effects it has on the general health. Furthermore, if nicotine is used at a young age, the person can develop addictive behaviors after growing up. E-cigarettes are also known to induce sleeping disorders as they engage different pathways in the brain responsible for addictive behavior, which is easily adopted during sleep deprivation. Ultimately, the social and professional canvas of the person is disturbed on a major level.
Various studies also negate the notion of e-cigarettes helping to quit smoking. However, many smokers and e-cigarette users have been found to be using both eventually. Another significant finding by the committee revolves around the differentiation between nicotine cessation and tobacco cessation and its importance. For example, in the UK –e-cigarettes have lesser nicotine than in the US – e-cigarettes have helped more people (18%) than nicotine patches (10%) to give up combustible smoking. Yet the success ratio of both the methods are miles apart at 20% for e-cigarettes and 81% for the patches.
Wold believes it is difficult to regularize such products as they offer a wide variety of flavors, e-liquid content, power levels, and customizable shapes, which are very appealing for a teenage vape enthusiast. However, with fruit and mint flavors regularized by FDA policies, menthol-flavored products are hoped to be regularized as well, which are openly available.
Also, the US has no standard limit for nicotine concentration in e-liquid, and some devices have high nicotine levels (59 mg/mL). The EU, on the other hand, has a limit of ≤20 mg/mL for nicotine concentrations which is in comparison with a normal smoking cigarette.
According to the statement, teenage vape raves can be coped with if the following preventions are made:
- Educate the stakeholders about the confirmed health risks related to e-cigarettes.
- Flavored e-cigarettes of any kind may be removed from the markets.
- Smoke-free air laws should tackle e-cigarettes as prohibited items.
- All sorts of digital platforms should have regulated marketing regarding e-cigarettes.
- Programs for quitting vaping in adults and youngsters should be introduced in hospitals.
- Medical students should be officially taught about vaping and its consequences in medical colleges.
A group of volunteer writers penned down this scientific statement on behalf of the following stakeholders;
- Stroke Council
- Council on Hypertension
- Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
- American Heart Association Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences
The American Heart Association’s statements help spread mass awareness about stroke issues and heart diseases. They also lend a helping hand in facilitating informed decisions regarding health care. However, they do not comprise any treatment recommendation or suggestion, rather outline the current knowledge on the topic, and highlight any area that might help conduct additional research.
