Teenagers who smoke e-cigarettes are more likely to become tobacco users later, with dramatic health consequences.
Teens who vape end up smoking tobacco about as much as teens who have never used the devices, according to a new study in review Pediatrics of November 5. Worse: the electronic cigarette “increases the likelihood that young people will start smoking”, laments Jessica Barrington-Trimis, director of research.
A veritable “epidemic”
In France, the number of daily electronic cigarette users is estimated at around 1.7 million. This market should reach 44.6 billion dollars worldwide within five years.
The FDA recently declared that vaping has become a veritable “epidemic”, threatening to unravel efforts to reduce smoking rates. The agency has ordered e-cigarette makers to come forward with public health plans to reduce teen consumption.
“Paediatricians need to find a way to fix this problem”
Jessica Barrington-Trimis and her colleagues surveyed 6,258 high school students twice a year apart. Here’s what the researchers found:
– 7% of people who had never smoked had started to smoke.
– 21% of vapers had started to smoke real cigarettes.
– Teens who vaped and smoked were more likely to continue using both products rather than just one.
“Paediatricians need to find a way to fix this problem, because e-cigarettes are not benign,” warns Jessica Barrington-Trimis. Recent studies have demonstrated that if the electronic cigarette is always preferable to tobacco, it can also be dangerous for health. Vaping daily would double the risk of having a heart attack, damage blood vessels and would increase the risk of cancer.
Arterial stiffness
When it comes to tobacco… “We found that smoking in adolescence, even at lower levels than reported in studies in adults, is associated with arterial stiffness and progression of atherosclerosis,” said Professor John Deanfield (UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science) about another search. Arterial stiffness indicates that blood vessels are beginning to be damaged, which sets the stage for future heart and vascular problems. We are talking about heart attacks or strokes.
“However, we also found that if teens then quit smoking and drinking after adolescence, their arteries return to normal, suggesting that there are opportunities to preserve arterial health from an early age. “, insists John Deanfield.
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