How do electronic cigarettes affect the mental and respiratory health of youth?

A comprehensive scientific review has revealed an association between the use of e-cigarettes by children and young people and an increased risk of respiratory problems and mental health issues. Physicians from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reviewed 81 studies examining the health and social impacts of e-cigarette use among children and young people. The review concluded that there is an association between vaping and respiratory problems, including coughing and wheezing, as well as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

The results also showed an association between e-cigarette use and sleep problems, eye diseases, and oral health disorders, including infections, ulcers, and dry mouth. Researchers pointed to evidence of potential negative effects on children exposed to e-cigarettes during pregnancy, including increased abnormal reflexes, reduced motor maturity, and impaired self-control.

Doctors warned that the risks of vaping are not limited to direct health effects. The review found strong evidence that e-cigarette use increases the likelihood of later starting traditional cigarette smoking among young people who have never smoked before.

In findings published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, researchers stated that there is consistent evidence that young people who use e-cigarettes experience higher rates of coughing, wheezing, and other respiratory symptoms compared to non-smokers. They added that evidence is growing regarding a broader range of potential health harms affecting children and young people, including mental health, oral and dental health, allergies, sleep disorders, and eye symptoms, as well as potential adverse outcomes for maternal and child health in the perinatal period among children exposed to nicotine during pregnancy.

Professor Will Carroll, who co-authored the study, said that e-cigarette use “should not be dismissed as a harmless part of growing up.”