This Thursday, the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology expressed concern about the risk of early respiratory diseases in young people due to the use of e-cigarettes, after the WHO called for “urgent action” to control consumption.
“It has been proven that e-cigarettes greatly damage the defenses. (…) These recurrent infections in young people and children are a risk factor for the development of chronic respiratory diseases in adults,” Coordinator of the Smoking Committee of the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology. , Sofia Ravara.
The professor at the University of the Interior of Beira spoke after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned this Thursday in the report “Electronic cigarettes, a call to action” about the “alarming use” of e-cigarettes by children and young people.
Symptoms
E-cigarettes cause respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, fatigue and worsening asthma, the pulmonologist said, noting, for example, that Evalie’s acute lung injury “results in hospitalization requiring oxygen.”
“There are several published cases that have occurred in Europe that show that Evali (…) occurred not only in the United States, but also in users of e-cigarettes with and without nicotine, regardless of whether they used vitamin E oil or not. or cannabis,” he emphasized.
Sofia Ravara recalled that the increase in consumption of inhaled nicotine devices is “highly addictive” and causes “diseases in the medium and long term.”
Considering the WHO report “very well done,” Sofia Ravara also noted that pregnant women who use e-cigarettes put the health and development of the fetus at risk.
“This will have dire consequences for the development of the central nervous system, because nicotine (…) is teratogenic (…) and can lead to changes in the development of the central nervous system, which will have consequences for learning, cognitive functions, but also the mental health of this child and future adult,” he emphasized.
The specialist reiterated that the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology is “concerned about the growing epidemic of e-cigarettes.”
“This has perpetuated the epidemic of nicotine addiction, and the big aggravating factor is that it is used by children, adolescents, young adults, young adults, and therefore there is very early exposure and (…) generally, the earlier one is exposed, the consequences will be more serious,” he added.
The National Association of Physicians of Public Health warned that the risks of using e-cigarettes are real and called for “immediate action applying the public health precautionary principle.”
“These devices emit toxic aerosols that have been linked to cancer, cardiovascular risks, potential adverse effects on young brain development, hazards to pregnant women, and many other risks that are not yet known,” he said.
WHO said countries that ban the sale of e-cigarettes need to strengthen enforcement of the ban and called on those that allow their commercialization to ensure strict regulations to reduce consumption, including banning all flavors, limiting the strength and quality of nicotine, and taxing them.