Health experts have called for public awareness on rising usage of electronic cigarettes among teenagers and the negative health impact of tobacco on health and to advocate for effective e-cigarette control policies and laws in the country to save their future.
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-operated portable devices that deliver nicotine via a vaporised, flavoured liquid consisting of proylene glycol, glycerol and nicotine.1 Marketed as healthier alternatives to tobacco smoking and a means to quit – claims not fully established yet — e-cigarettes are becoming a popular means to bypass smoke-free laws, enabling users to “smoke anywhere”.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), though widely used to help smokers with withdrawal symptoms via nicotine gums, patches, and inhalers since 19922 has helped less than 5% of smokers to quit smoking successfully. Although proven safe, NRTs are not as satisfying and smokers find it hard to break the bio-behavioral
The addiction is potentially attributed to the lack of the psychological stimulus of smoke itself, and the habit of cigarette holding in the hand, thus their potential superiority over other therapies despite a lack of evidence about their safety profile and effectiveness.
Talking to private news channel, Lung specialist Prof Dr Javed Khan stressed on the need for more rigorous anti-tobacco campaigns that focuses on tobacco cigarettes and on the rising trend of e-cigarettes among youth to create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking.
Dr Javed explained that many harmful chemicals, including nicotine were being used in the composition of this harmful e-cigarette which was toxic to humans and could cause health issues.
E-cigarettes are known by many different Names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems.” Chemicals in vaping fluid also can cause acute lung injuries and contribute to lung and cardiovascular disease down the line, specialist says.
The global use of e-cigarettes has been rising exponentially since 2007, generating increased interest among researchers. Studies conducted in the developed world show a high level of awareness about, and the use of, e-cigarettes as a means of smoking cessation. However, studies from the developing world show a less encouraging response.
Tobacco smoking is a rising problem in Pakistan; an estimated 1.3% women and 27.6% men smoke cigarettes, while as many as 6.4% women and 44.6% men use tobacco regularly.12 This is contributing to an increased burden of disease, since the link between smoking and lung cancer, coronary artery disease, and tuberculosis has been indubitably established.
