Feb. 19, 2019 | There are more than 460 different electronic cigarette brands currently on the market in the United States. Also known as e-cigs, mods, vapes and vape pens, these electronic delivery systems are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol that typically contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals. They can resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or even everyday items like pens or USB memory sticks. Regardless of their design and appearance, these devices generally operate in a similar manner and are made of similar components. They usually include a cartridge that holds a liquid solution, a heating element, a power source and a mouthpiece that the person uses to inhale. Besides exposing the user to nicotine, which is highly addictive, e-cigarettes can cause unintended injuries. Defective batteries have caused fires and explosions, some of which have resulted in serious injuries.

Feb. 19, 2019 | Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that can cause an increase in a person’s blood pressure and heart rate. It can also contribute to hardening of the arterial walls, which may lead to a heart attack. But what effect does nicotine, commonly found in e-cigarettes, have on the brain? The chemical is readily absorbed from the lungs into the bloodstream when a person uses an e-cigarette. Upon entering the blood, it stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine. Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. As with most addictive substances, nicotine activates the brain’s reward circuits and increases levels of a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine, which reinforces rewarding behaviors. Pleasure caused by nicotine’s interaction with the reward circuit motivates some to use nicotine again and again despite the risk to their health.

Feb. 19, 2019 | Declines in the use of tobacco among this country’s adolescents have been reversed in recent years due to the increased usage of e-cigarettes. A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this year found that about 4.9 million youth were current tobacco users in 2018, with 1.5 million more e-cigarette users in 2018 than the year before. In addition, the frequency in which high school e-cigarette users were using these products increased by nearly 40 percent between 2017 and 2018. Another report, published in February in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that adolescents who smoke e-cigarettes are more than four times as likely to try a cigarette and nearly three times as likely to continue using cigarettes as those who have no prior tobacco use history. Because the teen years are critical for brain development, it’s important that young people know the long-term risks associated with nicotine products.

Feb. 19, 2019 | Some research suggests that e-cigarettes might be less harmful than cigarettes when people who regularly smoke switch to them as a replacement. But this doesn’t mean e-cigarettes are completely safe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than the deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals in smoke from regular cigarettes. The aerosol, however, does can contain harmful substances. A study of some e-cigarette products found the vapor contains known carcinogens and toxic chemicals as well as potentially toxic metal nanoparticles from the device itself. The study showed that the liquids of certain brands contain high levels of nickel and chromium, which may come from the nichrome heating coils of the vaporizing device. E-cigarettes may also contain low levels of cadmium, a toxic metal also found in cigarette smoke that can cause breathing problems and disease.

Feb. 19, 2019 | Some smokers believe e-cigarettes may help them lower nicotine cravings while they are trying to discontinue their tobacco use. However, at this point it is unclear whether e-cigarettes may be effective as smoking-cessation aids. There is also the possibility that they could perpetuate the nicotine addiction and thus interfere with quitting. These products have not been thoroughly evaluated in scientific studies. This may change in the near future, but for now, very little data exists on the safety of e-cigarettes, and consumers have no way of knowing whether there are any therapeutic benefits or how the health effects compare to conventional cigarettes. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has concluded that there is insufficient evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers give up tobacco and instead recommends approved medications that have been shown to be safe and effective. A combination of medication and counseling has been shown to work best.