Young people who vape are more likely to experience breathing problems, including cough, wheezing, bronchitis symptoms, and asthma attacks.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Respiratory Health Risks: Young people who vape face a higher likelihood of experiencing coughs, wheezing, bronchitis symptoms, and asthma attacks, according to a review led by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
- Gateway to Smoking: Evidence suggests that children and young people who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to transition to smoking traditional cigarettes, the review found.
- Broad Healthcare Impacts: Beyond respiratory issues, researchers identified potential links between vaping and poor oral health, anxiety, depression, and risks to fetal development during pregnancy.
A multi-study review into the impacts of vaping on children and young people has found clear links between e-cigarette use and respiratory health problems, as well as evidence that young users are more likely to eventually smoke cigarettes, according to research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood (ADC).
Researchers from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Keele University examined more than 14,000 published articles, assessed 325 full-text studies, and synthesized evidence from 81 studies.
The data indicates that young people who vape are more likely to experience breathing problems, including coughs, wheezing, symptoms of bronchitis, and asthma attacks.
“Vaping should not be seen as a harmless part of growing up,” said Will Carroll, honorary professor of child health at Keele, in a news release. “The evidence shows clear links with respiratory symptoms, nicotine dependence and subsequent cigarette smoking, while concerns about wider impacts on young people’s healthcare continue to grow.”
Beyond respiratory symptoms, the researchers identified possible links to other healthcare issues, including anxiety, depression, and poor oral health. The review also highlighted new evidence suggesting vaping could affect sleep, eye health, and allergies, and may pose risks to infants exposed to nicotine during pregnancy.
To address these trends, Carroll noted that policy changes are necessary to make vaping less attractive to children. These measures include limiting available flavors, standardizing packaging to match tobacco products, and restricting how vaping products are displayed in retail environments.
Source: Keele University
