E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid to produce aerosols for inhalation. They contain nicotine (the addictive component of tobacco products) as well as glycerin, propylene glycol and flavoring chemicals. The aerosols from these devices may also contain toxic metals and cancer-causing substances. Young people who use e-cigarettes are at high risk of long-term health problems from the nicotine they inhale. This may include changes to brain circuits that control attention and learning, and addiction to other drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
Although some e-cigarettes are sold without nicotine, a growing number of people use them with higher concentrations of the chemical. In the United States, adolescent use of these devices with high nicotine levels has increased dramatically in recent years. These high-nicotine e-cigarettes are often called JUULs or pod mods. They have a sleek, high-tech design and come in different sizes to resemble regular cigarettes, cigars, pipes and pens. Many use refillable cartridges filled with a solution that contains nicotine and other chemicals, called e-liquids.
Higher-nicotine e-cigarettes have been associated with an increase in the risk of lung damage and heart disease, as well as an increased likelihood of starting other types of cigarette smoking. In addition, the vapor from these e-cigarettes can irritate the lungs and can be toxic to the nervous system. There are also concerns that e-cigarettes can be used in conjunction with other tobacco and non-tobacco products, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Inhalation of e-cigarette aerosols has been shown to cause platelet and leukocyte activation, which can lead to vascular endothelial dysfunction, thrombogenesis, and oxidative stress. The effect of daily e-cigarette consumption on platelet function, vascular tone and endothelial activation remains controversial but has been reported in several studies.
E-cigarettes can also affect the airways by causing inflammation, oxidative stress and cytokine storm. Using a popular cream-brulee flavoured e-cigarette, it was found that short-term exposure to the aerosol induced toxicity in human lung epithelial cells and led to the production of cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 as well as inflammatory mediators such as NO and ROS.
The best way to reduce your risk of harm from e-cigarettes is to stop smoking. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about free resources that can help you quit, like online, text and phone services or apps. Ask for support from family and friends, and make a plan to quit that includes activities that you enjoy. Be patient; it takes time to break a habit, but you can do it. Also, find ways to reward yourself for sticking to your plan. And don’t forget to protect yourself from vape fires and explosions. This can put yourself and others at risk, especially if it occurs near an oxygen tank or propane gas tanks. And remember that you’re never too old to quit smoking and there are many FDA-approved quitting aids available for you, such as patches and gum. Also, make sure you’re not vaping while driving or operating machinery. 電子煙