Paul Wong, Class of 2020
With the advent of seemingly “healthier” alternatives to filtered cigarettes, like e-cigarettes, the prevalence of smokers has increased tremendously, with Mirbolouk et al. reporting an estimated 10.8 million people in the U.S. used e-cigarettes and 2.8 million of which were 18–24 years old (1). In addition, the detrimental effects of smoking has reached even high school populations, as the American Heart Association reports a 2-fold increase in adolescent e-cigarette smokers in 2018 alone (2). Because of the short history of e-cigarettes, users have not been briefed comprehensively of the long term effects of this alternative to traditional smoking. In light of recent findings concerning e-cigarette use, many studies have elucidated the potential health detriments of e-cigarette use.
In 2019, Obisesan et al. investigated the potential association between e-cigarette use and depression using data from participants in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (3). The study was initially prompted by prior studies concerning the use of traditional cigarettes and the increased risk of developing major depressive disorder. Confirming their initial hypothesis, their findings suggest that there is in fact a significant link between vaping and depression incidence. The researchers in the study found that 34% of current e-cigarette users have reported experiencing clinical depression, while only 15% of non-vaping participants have experienced depression. Furthermore, the researchers also noted that 27% of former users were also more likely to report clinical depression, suggesting that vaping causes long term neurological effects that may be linked to depression in the future. Young individuals were also highlighted to be the most prone to e-cigarettes’ effects, as college students aged 18-25 showed the most significant link between vaping and depression. In addition to age being a factor in severity of depression, the researchers also cited that the risk of depression development also rose with increased use. Since their findings concluded that there were not any significant differences in the associations when stratified into subgroups that were defined by age and race, the researchers’ conclusions suggest that e-cigarette use affects people similarly across different population groups. Overall, the study recommends the need for longitudinal studies to investigate e-cigarette use’s potential implications toward the development of depression.
Other recent research studies on the use of e-cigarettes have highlighted its potential harmful effects on a molecular level. Lee et al. (2018) found that e-cigarette smoke damages DNA and reduces repair activity in the murine model system (4). Within the mouse system, the reduction of DNA repair activity was seen in the lung, heart, and bladder. Furthermore, the research group sought to expand their hypotheses to human models in vitro as they examined e-cigarette smoke’s effect on human lung and bladder cells. Similarly, they found that the e-cigarette smoke posed to be carcinogenic to these cells and may contribute to lung and bladder cancer, as well as heart disease, in humans. These sentiments were extended to recent reviews that assessed the effects of e-cigarette use in humans. Darville et al. (2019) presented evidence that suggests that e-cigarettes possess toxins that can cause harm towards a person’s heart, lungs, and circulation (5). More specifically, the effects of e-cigarette use is namely seen in the presence of nicotine, oxidizing agents, and particulates that are known to be detrimental to cardiovascular and lung health. The biological repercussions of these harmful compounds can be seen in the increase of lipid peroxidation and contributions to mechanisms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which include inflammation and platelet activation.
With the advent of novel substitutes to traditional cigarette products, there comes a myriad of unknown health effects that have yet to be discovered. Just like traditional cigarettes’ influence on adolescents, e-cigarettes also pose a great danger towards teenagers. As researchers continue to learn more about the short and long-term health effects of e-cigarette use, clinicians have begun to voice their concerns towards e-cigarettes. These health effects have been reported to not only affect the biological functionalities of the human body, but also the mental states of e-cigarette users. Future studies on e-cigarettes will continue to shed light on the adverse repercussions and will hopefully deter people from abusing e-cigarettes, especially the younger populations.
References:
In 2019, Obisesan et al. investigated the potential association between e-cigarette use and depression using data from participants in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (3). The study was initially prompted by prior studies concerning the use of traditional cigarettes and the increased risk of developing major depressive disorder. Confirming their initial hypothesis, their findings suggest that there is in fact a significant link between vaping and depression incidence. The researchers in the study found that 34% of current e-cigarette users have reported experiencing clinical depression, while only 15% of non-vaping participants have experienced depression. Furthermore, the researchers also noted that 27% of former users were also more likely to report clinical depression, suggesting that vaping causes long term neurological effects that may be linked to depression in the future. Young individuals were also highlighted to be the most prone to e-cigarettes’ effects, as college students aged 18-25 showed the most significant link between vaping and depression. In addition to age being a factor in severity of depression, the researchers also cited that the risk of depression development also rose with increased use. Since their findings concluded that there were not any significant differences in the associations when stratified into subgroups that were defined by age and race, the researchers’ conclusions suggest that e-cigarette use affects people similarly across different population groups. Overall, the study recommends the need for longitudinal studies to investigate e-cigarette use’s potential implications toward the development of depression.
Other recent research studies on the use of e-cigarettes have highlighted its potential harmful effects on a molecular level. Lee et al. (2018) found that e-cigarette smoke damages DNA and reduces repair activity in the murine model system (4). Within the mouse system, the reduction of DNA repair activity was seen in the lung, heart, and bladder. Furthermore, the research group sought to expand their hypotheses to human models in vitro as they examined e-cigarette smoke’s effect on human lung and bladder cells. Similarly, they found that the e-cigarette smoke posed to be carcinogenic to these cells and may contribute to lung and bladder cancer, as well as heart disease, in humans. These sentiments were extended to recent reviews that assessed the effects of e-cigarette use in humans. Darville et al. (2019) presented evidence that suggests that e-cigarettes possess toxins that can cause harm towards a person’s heart, lungs, and circulation (5). More specifically, the effects of e-cigarette use is namely seen in the presence of nicotine, oxidizing agents, and particulates that are known to be detrimental to cardiovascular and lung health. The biological repercussions of these harmful compounds can be seen in the increase of lipid peroxidation and contributions to mechanisms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which include inflammation and platelet activation.
With the advent of novel substitutes to traditional cigarette products, there comes a myriad of unknown health effects that have yet to be discovered. Just like traditional cigarettes’ influence on adolescents, e-cigarettes also pose a great danger towards teenagers. As researchers continue to learn more about the short and long-term health effects of e-cigarette use, clinicians have begun to voice their concerns towards e-cigarettes. These health effects have been reported to not only affect the biological functionalities of the human body, but also the mental states of e-cigarette users. Future studies on e-cigarettes will continue to shed light on the adverse repercussions and will hopefully deter people from abusing e-cigarettes, especially the younger populations.
References:
- Mirbolouk, Mohammadhassan, et al. “Prevalence and Distribution of E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2016.” Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 169, no. 7, 2018, p. 429., doi:10.7326/m17-3440.
- “The 101 on e-Cigarettes Infographic.” Www.heart.org, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking-tobacco/the-101-on-e-cigarettes-infographic.
- Obisesan, Olufunmilayo H., et al. “Association Between e-Cigarette Use and Depression in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2016-2017.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 2, no. 12, 2019
- Lee, Hyun-Wook, et al. “E-Cigarette Smoke Damages DNA and Reduces Repair Activity in Mouse Lung, Heart, and Bladder as Well as in Human Lung and Bladder Cells.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115, no. 7, 2018
- Darville, A., & Hahn, E. J. (2019). E-cigarettes and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: What Clinicians and Researchers Need to Know. Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 21(5).
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