Smoking cigarettes used to be one of the most dangerous habits exhibited by young and older adults and adolescents. Recently, electronic cigarettes that use special devices to transform liquid with flavors and nicotine into vapor became popular. The producers promote their product saying it is much safer than combustible tobacco use. However, recent studies, both scientifically based and observational prove that e-cigarettes impede the smoker’s immune system leading to increased levels of pneumonia and respiratory disease. Scholars emphasize that e-cigarettes expose smokers to nicotine, ultrafine particles, and toxicants like “propylene glycol diacetyl (butter flavor), cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon), benzaldehyde (cherry), and metals” (Bhatta & Glantz, 2020, p. 183). No less important, smoking e-cigarettes causes suppression of immune nasal cells that leads to increased risks of respiratory diseases. Therefore scholars recommend that e-cigarettes should not be used as an alternative to smoking combustible tobacco.
Some people think that the health outcome is the only consequence and reason to give up smoking, but this is not true – smoking e-cigarettes is also a social problem, as it has a significant impact on a person’s mental and social well-being. It is widely known that nicotine consumption makes people more irritable, aggressive, and deprived of energy. Therefore, they lose potential at the workplace, and, if they are students, their grades will suffer as well. No less important energy-deprived and irritable people are bad companions and their mental conditions may lead to problems in their relationships with their families, friends, and acquaintances. Smoking also has long-lasting effects and can impact the health of a person’s future children, especially when the fetus is exposed to nicotine and other substances when the woman is pregnant. We all live in a free society where everyone decides for themselves whether to use substances or not, but people should be informed of the dangers that such habits may bring.
Reference
Bhatta, D. N., & Glantz, S. A. (2020). Association of e-cigarette use with respiratory disease among adults: a longitudinal analysis. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 58(2), 182-190.