Does vaping impacts your health ?

Vaping has become a hot trend in recent years and a true alternative to traditional cigarette.

Smokers are nowadays turning to E-cigarettes which are said to be safer than regular ones because they produce an aerosol instead of smoke and the amount of nicotine can be controlled by users.

They have seen a rapid rise in usage since their invention in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist Han Li and since they went on sale for the first time in 2006.

There’s a true perception that e-cigarettes are harmless.
People traditionally use them to quit smoking thinking that they are risk free.

But is it completely true ?

Electronic cigarettes contain a variety of chemicals that are potentially toxic such as diethylene glycol (used in anti-freeze), acetol , diacetyl , lead, nickel and chromium that may be inhaled , even if they are found in much lower levels than in tobacco smoke, the risk still exists.

Another problem of E- cigs still brings users into contact with nicotine which is highly addictive and involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases especially atherosclerosis.

With its vasoconstrictor action , nicotine also inhibits the saliva production .
Oligoptyalism can leave patients susceptible to many troubles such as bacteria buildup, stomatitis , xerostomia, and tooth decay.

It can also harm brain development in children and young adults.
Otherwise, The e-cigarettes contain more particles that traditional ones that may cause lung and systemic inflammation.

What about the researches ?

Recent scientific researches have been done on the health effects of e-cigarettes. They are uncovering the serious side effects of vaping.

For example, according to a team of scientists of New York University School of Medicine , vaping may raise the risk of certain cancers and heart disease.

They are considering that the nicotine present in the e-cigarette could damage the DNA in many organs and reduce the body’s genetic repair mechanisms. 1

Other Studies have shown that e-cigs may lead to toxic effects in the lungs of e-cigs aerosols which includes pro-inflammatory responses.

It may increase coughing and wheezing in adolescents, as well as asthma exacerbations and throat irritation.2

A study recently published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology builds on the findings from Rahman and colleagues, after finding a high rate of mouth cell death due to exposure to e-cigarette vapor in just a few days.3

In the same Vein, a study done at University of Rochester Medical Center proves that e-cigs are as equally damaging to gums and teeth as traditional cigarettes.4

To conclude :

Because vaping may help with smoking cessation, it is likely that more and more smokers will move to e-cigarettes in the future.

Despite being widespread , the e-cigs effects stay unclear . They are fairly new and scientists are still learning about their long-term effects.

Therefore , it is important to realize that despite of being less harmful than smoking because they don’t contain tobacco , e-cigarettes aren’t problem-free.

But it does mean that we can be relatively confident that switching from smoking to vaping will have health benefits.

The dentist’s job is to increase awareness about the risks of vaping and side effects that can occur and directly affect one’s oral health.

Sources :

1- NYU College of Global Public Health

2- G. Shields . A Review of Pulmonary Toxicity of Electronic Cigarettes In The Context of Smoking: A Focus On Inflammation , Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017 Aug;26(8):1175-1191. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0358. Epub 2017 Jun 22.

3- Rouabhia M , Hyun Jin Park , Semlali A, Zakrzewski A, Chmielewski W, Chakir J. , E?Cigarette Vapor Induces an Apoptotic Response in Human Gingival Epithelial Cells Through the Caspase?3 Pathway . Journal of Cellular Physiology First published: 03 November 2016. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.25677

4- Thivanka Muthumalage, Melanie Prinz, Kwadwo O. Ansah, Janice Gerloff, Isaac K. Sundar, Irfan Rahman. Inflammatory and Oxidative Responses Induced by Exposure to Commonly Used e-Cigarette Flavoring Chemicals and Flavored e-Liquids without Nicotine. Frontiers in Physiology, 2018; 8 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.01130

Leave a comment