2023-10-04 20:19:25
One in five young people smokes an electronic cigarette, but not everyone sees this as a problem, according to comments on the comment platform NUjij. However, pulmonologist Wanda de Kanter believes this mindset is unjustified. She warns that young people do not understand the irreversible health damage caused by vaping.
Electronic cigarettes, or vapes, contain nicotine salt, which gives it a less sharp taste and a softer feel. The combination of this nicotine form and the flavors in the e-cigarette masks the taste and feeling of nicotine, making it seem harmless. Additionally, vapes were marketed as a way to quit traditional cigarettes, using colorful designs, flavors, lights, and scents to lure young people in.
However, De Kanter argues that vaping is far from innocent. Vapes contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, and nicotine salt is absorbed faster into the body. Physician-epidemiologist Ellen Croes explains that faster absorption into the brain increases the likelihood of addiction. The harmful effects of vaping are evident in hospitals, with scans showing signs of pneumonia and DNA damage in the mouth.
Quitting cigarettes or vapes is challenging, as an early nicotine addiction becomes a lifelong struggle, warns Croes. Furthermore, De Kanter observes that e-cigarettes often lead young people to start smoking traditional cigarettes. Those who vape are three to five times more likely to start smoking than those who do not. Croes adds that young people who both smoke and vape expose themselves to harmful substances from both sources, increasing their health risks. The combination also results in consuming high levels of nicotine, which can lead to nicotine poisoning and possibly trigger an epileptic attack.
Mental disadvantages also accompany vaping. Initially, young people start vaping to fit in or appear cool, but it can lead to mental health issues. Nicotine stimulates the production of dopamine, a pleasure hormone, and when the brain becomes dependent on it, withdrawal symptoms such as stress occur. The need for more nicotine leads to increased vaping. Withdrawal symptoms can be intense for some young people, resulting in depression or anxiety attacks. Long-term exposure to nicotine also affects the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain controlling impulses, which is still developing in young people. The damage to this area is irreversible and can open the doors to other addictions.
De Kanter’s ultimate goal is to see young people completely quit smoking or vaping. She advocates for this through the citizens’ initiative Nicotinee. She proposes linking the sale of nicotine-containing products to the year of birth, ensuring that anyone born after 2012 will never be allowed to smoke vapes or cigarettes, even when they reach adulthood. She envisions creating a nicotine-free generation.
It is crucial to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping among young people. Educating them on the irreversible health risks, physical and mental disadvantages, and the potential gateway it creates to smoking traditional cigarettes is essential for their well-being and future.]
#vaping #unhealthy #Based #NUjij