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SmileDoctors.com/columbusga
Adam Reynolds, DMD, MS
Dana Fender, DMD
Owned and operated by Dana Fender, DMD | Dana E. Fender DMD PC.
The health risks of using combustible cigarettes are well
known & many smokers have turned to e-cigarettes as a
smoking cessation product. However, e-cigarettes may
have their own set of health risks. Here is an overview of
how e-cigarettes, especially the popular Juul, work and
why e-cigarettes may be harmful to your child’s health.
The Juul consists of two parts, the e-cigarette that contains
the battery and regulates the temperature and the pod that
contains the e-liquid that is to be heated by the e-cigarette
and turned into vapor. While some e-cigarettes are designed
to look like a combustible cigarette, Juuls (and Juul copycats)
look like a USB drive or other everyday object. In addition, Juuls
can be charged in a USB computer port. As a result, it is easy for
teens to inconspicuously ‘vape’.
The contents of the e-liquid include solvents,
nicotine that has been specially engineered to
taste mild and smooth, and flavorings. Some
pods contain as much nicotine as a pack of combustible
cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive and teens are
especially prone to addiction because their brains
are still under development. Researchers have found that
nicotine adversely affects the development of the part of the
brain responsible for executive function and self-regulation.
High blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease are
also side effects of nicotine.
There is currently no USDA regulation of e-cigarettes. This
lack of oversight means there is no guarantee that e-liquid
is free of harmful artificial flavorings and heavy metals. One
flavoring chemical, diacetyl, which was used in the past to
flavor popcorn, has been linked to a rare lung disease called
bronchiolitis obliterans. Bronchiolitis obliterans does not
have a cure and involves inflammation of the bronchioles, the
smallest airways of the lungs.
Parents can discourage teens from trying ‘vapes’ by openly
discussing the associated health risks, and the loss of control
that comes with addiction.
Sources: Goriounova NA, Mansvelder HD., “Short- and Long-Term
Consequences of Nicotine Exposure during Adolescence for Prefrontal Cortex
Neuronal Network Function,” Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Dec
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com, “What’s to Know About Popcorn Lung”
HOO’s HEALTHY
DANGERS
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