The debate over e-cigarette safety is heated, and it’s far from over. E-cigarettes are just too new for final answers. The data isn’t out there yet. But disagreement and misconceptions abound. The worst part is that, with all the confusion, plenty of people think vaping is virtually harmless when compared to smoking. It’s not.
The debate among health experts is over whether vaping is less harmful, overall, than smoking. What we’re learning is that the answer is complicated. The latest research shows that vaping is worse for brain health and that it may pose a higher risk for stroke severity.
The Study
A recent study, presented at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference 2017, found that e-cigarette vapor produced worse stroke outcomes than cigarette smoke, in mice. While exposure to e-cigarettes and tobacco smoking both reduced anti-coagulant levels, the mice that were exposed to vapor experienced worse stroke outcomes and neurological deficits. Exposure to e-cigarettes also lowered glucose uptake in the brain. The brain’s efficiency in using glucose is closely tied to:
- Thinking
- Learning
- Memory
This was a preliminary study and researchers said that we need more studies.
Other E-Cigarette Dangers
While e-cigarettes do expose users and the people around them to carcinogens, e-cigarettes also pose some safety risks that we didn’t see with traditional cigarettes. Defective e-cigarettes are known to explode, sometimes in users’ mouths, causing serious injuries. The nicotine, which is very poisonous, is in a liquid form that can easily be ingested by children and pets or absorbed through the skin. The fact that it is often flavored makes it even more inviting for children to drink.
Thinking about bringing e-cigarettes into your home? Learn more about e-cigarette accidents.
