Vaping ‘raises risk of deadly pneumonia for the elderly’

VAPING is dangerous for the elderly because it increases the risk of deadly pneumonia, research suggests.

A study found vapour from electronic cigarettes could be as bad as traditional tobacco or even vehicle exhaust in causing harmful bacteria to stick to the airways, increasing chances of the inflammatory lung condition.

Tests on both humans and mice by Queen Mary University, London, found the effect was present in both nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarettes.

The research examined the effects of vaping on a molecule produced by the cells that line the airways called PAFR (platelet-activating factor receptor), which previous research has shown helps stick bugs associated with pneumonia to the nose, throat and lungs.

The team studied the cells lining the nose of 17 regular e-cigarette users one hour after vaping, and found the PAFR levels had tripled compared with normal levels. They suggested people at high risk of pneumonia consider using nicotine patches or gum as alternative means of giving up cigarettes.

Prof Jonathan Grigg, who led the research, said: “These results suggest vaping makes the airways more vulnerable to bacteria sticking to airwaylining cells. If this occurs when a vaper gets exposed to the pneumococcal bacterium, it could increase the risk of infection. Some people may vape because they think it is totally safe, or in an attempt to quit smoking, but this study adds to evidence that inhaling vapour has the potential to cause adverse health effects.”

Pneumonia kills 29,000 people a year in the UK, with deaths mainly occurring in older people, children under 10 and babies.