E-cigarettes linked to mental and respiratory risks in youth, study warns

A comprehensive scientific review has warned of the mental and respiratory health risks posed by e-cigarettes to children and adolescents, confirming that their use is linked to a higher likelihood of respiratory issues and psychological disorders.

Doctors from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conducted a review of 81 studies examining the health and social effects of e-cigarette use in this age group.

According to the Daily Mail, the findings indicate a connection between vaping and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, as well as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

The review also found that e-cigarette use is associated with sleep problems, eye diseases, and oral health issues, including infections, ulcers, and dry mouth.

Researchers pointed to evidence of potential negative effects in children exposed to e-cigarettes during pregnancy, such as increased abnormal responses, reduced motor development, and impaired self-control.

The doctors emphasized that the risks of vaping are not limited to immediate health effects. The review found strong evidence that e-cigarette use increases the likelihood that previously non-smoking youth will start smoking traditional cigarettes later on.

The study results were published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, where researchers reported consistent evidence that young e-cigarette users experience higher rates of coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory symptoms compared to non-smokers.

There is also growing evidence of broader health harms, including effects on mental health, oral and dental health, allergies, sleep disorders, and eye symptoms, as well as potential negative outcomes for mothers and infants when children are exposed to nicotine during pregnancy.

Professor Will Carroll, a co-author of the study, stressed that e-cigarette use "should not be dismissed as a harmless part of growing up."