E-cigarettes are devices that allow people to inhale nicotine and other chemicals without the use of burning tobacco. They come in many forms and are sold with different flavors. Some e-cigarettes contain no nicotine and are intended to mimic traditional cigarettes but they also are available in higher nicotine levels. The FDA regulates these products and only adults can buy them. Researchers are working hard to gather more information about what is in these products, how they are used and their health effects.
Nicotine is an addictive substance and the main chemical in e-cigarettes. It can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses including heart disease and lung diseases. Some e-liquids have other chemicals that can harm the body. For example, diacetyl (found in some flavored e-liquids) may cause lung scarring called bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung”. It can also damage your kidneys, liver and brain.
There are other proven, safe ways to quit smoking and other tobacco products. You can talk to a doctor, nurse or quitline counselor about your options. You can also get support online, through a quitline or smartphone apps. You can also try SmokefreeTXT, an online and text message program that can help you stay smoke-free.
The use of e-cigarettes by children, teens and young adults is dangerous because it can lead to addiction and harm brain development. It can also increase the risk of developing COVID-19 because it exposes these groups to the virus through e-cigarette aerosol.
E-cigarettes have been linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among youth and young adults. In addition, there is evidence that e-cigarettes may be a route to tobacco and other drug use.
In a study of e-cigarette aerosol, researchers found that the vapor contains chemicals that can be harmful to the lungs. They also found that short-term exposure to e-cigarette aerosol caused toxicity to human airway epithelial cells and triggered oxidative stress in those cells. The toxicity was most intense in those cells that were exposed at the air-liquid interface of the cartomizer.
The most popular e-cigarette is JUUL, a prefilled pod device with a high nicotine content. This product has led to the development of “copycat” products like Suorin Drop, myblu and Vuse Alto that have a similar design and nicotine salt e-liquids. These products are often marketed to teens and young adults.
If you have experienced any unintended health or quality problems with a tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, you can report it to the Food and Drug Administration. The more reports the agency receives, the better it can identify trends and potential concerns. To report a problem, go to the Tobacco Product Problem Reports page. This page also includes information on how to file a complaint about a tobacco company that does not comply with the law. The FDA is working to make sure that all ENDS are safe and meet the standards in the FD&C Act and the Tobacco Product Regulations. 電子煙