10 Complications from the Dangers of Electronic Cigarettes.

What is an Electronic Cigarette?

An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a type of smoking device that uses an electrical mechanism to generate heat and vapor. It consists of three main components: a battery, an atomizer that produces smoke and heat, and a liquid. Unlike traditional cigarettes, it does not produce smoke from burning, making it seem less harmful to the body.

Smoke from Electronic Cigarettes

Smoke from e-cigarettes contains nicotine, an addictive substance similar to regular cigarettes. Nicotine affects blood circulation in various parts of the body, reducing it. E-cigarettes also contain other toxic substances harmful to the body, causing coughing, lung irritation, and increased risk of asthma. The vapor particles of e-cigarettes are smaller than traditional cigarettes, absorbing faster into the bloodstream. The metal coils in e-cigarettes can also release heavy metals.

Long-term smoking can cause abnormalities in the sensory nerves responsible for smell. As the sense of smell decreases, e-cigarette users may choose stronger-flavored liquids, causing more irritation and damage to the nose, lungs, and respiratory system.

Dangers from Electronic Cigarettes

Although e-cigarettes are not currently legal, their use is increasingly widespread, with smokers turning to them as a replacement for traditional cigarettes, believing in their safety for both themselves and those around them.

Moreover, there is an increase in new smokers, especially among women, children, and teenagers. Therefore, to stop the various impacts of e-cigarettes, there must be monitoring, prevention, and intervention, providing accurate information, and promoting public awareness of the onslaught of this type of smoking device. According to research centers, there are reports of complications from e-cigarettes in the respiratory system (49%), heart and blood vessels (13%), mouth and teeth (18%), brain (7%), liver (2.9%), skin (2.9%), and other systems (19%).

Electronic cigarettes increase the risk of ischemic heart disease by 1.8 times, cause lung inflammation, increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 49%, increase asthma risk by 39%, and reduce brain performance in children and adolescents. They also cause severe damage to fetal development. Currently, in Thailand, there are no statistics on the number of patients or deaths from using e-cigarettes, but cases of pneumonia from e-cigarettes have been reported since 2019.

Nowadays, there is still a debate about whether e-cigarettes are genuinely an aid or a better alternative for those who want to quit smoking.

E-cigarettes and Youth

E-cigarettes have become more accessible to children and adolescents through social media. “E-cigarettes” on social media tend to be on the rise. Sellers attract young people with modern, new looks, beautiful shapes, small sizes that are easy to carry, and conceal. Unlike conventional cigarettes, they provide one-sided information and are easy to buy, thus reaching more children and teenagers gradually.

In children and adolescents whose brains have not fully developed, the toxicity of nicotine in e-cigarettes can lead to symptoms such as irritability, inability to concentrate on studies, memory decline, headaches, mood swings, short attention span, and depression.

Flavor and Taste

E-cigarettes invade the new smoker market through flavor and taste, a crucial strategy to entice customers. There are approximately 20,000 types of flavored liquids, mostly chemicals that easily vaporize. They may be safe when ingested as food but may not be safe when transformed into smoke to be inhaled.

The mixing of flavorings can mask the undesired effects of e-cigarette smoke containing nicotine, heavy metals, formaldehyde, etc., which are both irritating and dangerous. Flavorings reduce the user's sensory warning signals and defensive reactions. Research has shown that flavoring substances cause irritants in the respiratory system, long-term exposure may cause chronic coughing, inflammation in the respiratory tract, and sudden lung damage.

The rapidly increasing use of e-cigarettes among young adults, children, and adolescents requires close monitoring, intervention, and prevention to reduce e-cigarette use, protect children, teenagers, and young adults from lifelong nicotine addiction, and other subsequent problems. Everyone must work together, from family and community levels to healthcare professionals, relevant health care organizations, and the government, including other stakeholders.