Real flavour of vaping danger
THERE is no escaping vaping, with teenagers drawn to crazy flavours and adults switching from normal cigs.
More than three million Brits vape and it is said to be 95 per cent safer than smoking because e-cigs do not contain cancer-causing chemicals.
But as we report today, health officials in the US revealed a patient has died after developing severe respiratory disease due to vaping.
And a US study claims there is an increased stroke risk after just one puff of a vape stick. So we ask:
Are vapes safe? tobacco. And it’s the cocktail of many different chemicals from burning tobacco that damages DNA and can cause cancer.”
Dr Nick Hopkinson, British Lung Foundation boss, said: “There are about 3.2 million p people using e-cigarettes in the U UK, about half of whom are now ex-smokers. Most people who vape are using it to help them cut down and quit smoking.
“Long- term use may cause health problems but far fewer than continuing to smoke.”
Currently one in six 11 to 18-year-olds have tried vaping, saying they were attracted to the flavours. And 3.4 per cent vape m more than once a week.
But Dr Lion Shahab, from University College London, says many teens are trying them instead of fags.
In a study, he saw a 95 per cent reduction in exposure to cancercausing chemicals in those who vaped compared with smokers.
He looked at long-term users of e- cigarettes and measured biomarkers linked to respiratory function, cancer development and cardiovascular disease. Dr Shahab found they were simila similar to long-term users of n nicotine replacement th t herapy, which is k known to be safe.
He said: “If you in inhale something into yo your lungs it is likely to cau cause some irritation and increase the risk of some diseases. dis
“I would not recommend anyone who’s never smoked to start vaping.
“But it’s complicated with adolescents. Some of them who pick up an e-cigarette will not then go on to try a cigarette.”
DU