Vaping is a rage among teens and young adults. Touted by some as a safer alternative to tobacco, vaping has become a fave. Their ban in India was pre-emptive in nature, signaling that the country has understood that e-cigarettes are not to be considered as products which wean one off tobacco. We got in touch with Dr Nikhil Kumar, Director, Cardiology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram to explain it better.
What are electronic cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are battery-operated, handheld devices that consist of three components–a rechargeable battery, a vaporization chamber, and a liquid cartridge usually containing the substance which needs to be smoked. Heating creates a vapor that is inhaled and exhaled.
E-cigarette and its side effects
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The association between smoking and heart attacks has been long established. Now with the advent of e-cigarettes, the age at which one begins to smoke is younger. Dr Nikhil said, “Hearts which are still developing, bodies which have not completely gained immunity are being subjected to the perils of tobacco consumption. An increase in Low-Density Lipo-protein (LDL) or bad cholesterol is one of the major side effects of e-cigarette tobacco consumption.”
E-cigarettes cause other respiratory ailments too
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However, it is not limited to just tobacco consumption. Marijuana is also used on a large scale through these vaping devices. Dr Nikhil explains, “Intake of substances through e-cigarettes is high, often causing respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, cough, asthma, wheezing. Additionally, one might have chapped lips, feel clammy and weak, shiver, and be irritable. This is in cases of excess. The chemicals seep into the cells and over time cause illness. The occurrence of cancer cells, shortness of breath, fatigue, high blood pressure are more long-term symptoms.”
Do e-cigarettes cause heart attacks?
There isn’t any sure short way of ending an addiction to tobacco, especially considering e-cigarettes have hit the market. It will be painful, and withdrawal will be difficult. While there is no conclusive evidence which states that e-cigarettes cause a heart attack, there is evidence that smoking does.
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Since e-cigarettes facilitate this, they play a direct role in facilitating heart attacks. Dr Nikhil suggests, “My advice to everyone is that they should not consider these safer than regular cigarettes because they are not. They affect your brain, lungs, hearts, immune systems, they can cause poisoning. They are deemed ‘cool’ but wreak complete havoc with your body and can cause severe long-term ailments. These may not show at first but with time their symptoms manifest and by then it is too late, and the body is unable to heal itself.”
Vaping is neither safe nor a healthy alternative to smoking. So, if you have an e-cigarette, get rid of it, NOW!
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