Young people are at risk of experiencing significant respiratory symptoms, including bronchitis and shortness of breath, after just 30 days of electronic cigarette use, according to a new study released Tuesday. The study, conducted by researchers from the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Southern California Keck School of Medicine, used four years of data from online surveys to examine the health impact of e-cigarettes on teens and young adults.
The researchers found that e-cigarette use is associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The study, which was partly funded by the National Institutes of Health, adds to the existing evidence that e-cigarettes can have negative health effects on young people. The researchers called on drug regulators to consider the findings and work towards minimizing the impact of e-cigarette use on young people.
The use of e-cigarettes among young people has skyrocketed in the past decade, putting their health at risk and undermining efforts to reduce youth tobacco use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarette usage is now significantly higher among youths and young adults compared to adults overall in the U.S. Sales of e-cigarettes have also increased during the Covid pandemic, driven by disposable products in sweet and fruity flavors that are popular among teens.
Despite federal crackdowns and restrictions on marketing and flavors, manufacturers continue to flood the market with thousands of addictive e-cigarette products, some of which are sold illegally. Brands like Puff Bar, Elf Bar, and Breeze Smoke, which are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, have gained popularity among young people.
Alayna Tackett, a pediatric psychologist and researcher at the Center for Tobacco Research, emphasized that e-cigarettes are not risk-free and called for measures to eliminate their use among young people. However, she also acknowledged that for adults who are interested in using a potentially less harmful alternative to cigarettes, policies should be in place to support them.
The study followed over 2,000 young people with an average age of 17.3 years and collected data on their respiratory symptoms and use of e-cigarettes, traditional cigarettes, and cannabis. The findings showed that past 30-day e-cigarette users had a higher risk of experiencing wheeze, shortness of breath, and symptoms of bronchitis compared to never users.
The link between e-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms was slightly weaker when researchers accounted for the co-use of e-cigarettes with traditional cigarettes or cannabis and secondhand exposure to any of the products. However, the negative health effects of e-cigarette use, such as bronchitis symptoms and shortness of breath, remained significant.
The study also found that the negative health effects of e-cigarette use were present in all participants, regardless of whether they had a history of asthma or not.
The researchers acknowledged the limitations of the study and suggested that future research should explore objective measures of respiratory symptoms and product use. Additionally, further studies could assess the relationship between e-cigarette use and the use of traditional cigarettes or cannabis.
In conclusion, the study highlights the significant respiratory risks associated with electronic cigarette use among young people. It underscores the need for drug regulators to take action to minimize the negative impact of e-cigarettes on youth health and wellbeing.