Teen Vaping: What You Need to Know
by Tiddy
Posted on 21-12-1444 08:00 م
Adolescence is a time of increased susceptibility to the harmful effects of nicotine, including addiction, particularly as young brains are still developing into their 20s and young people can become dependent on nicotine with lower levels of exposure than adults. Nicotine can affect memory and concentration and is known to alter teen brain development. Exposure to nicotine during adolescence may cause reduced impulse control as well as cognitive and behavioural problems. Vaping may predispose youth to addiction to nicotine and possibly other drugs. Learn more about the risks of vaping.
It is now widely recognized that vaping is unhealthy and dangerous, even if it might not be quite as unhealthy and dangerous as smoking conventional, combustible cigarettes. The more immediate health effects include coughing and wheezing, behavioral and mood changes, headaches, seizures, vomiting and potential severe lung injury. Vaping also negatively affects teens’ attention, learning, mood and impulse control in a way that can affect them in school, sports and social situations. Nearly all vaping products contain nicotine, in many cases as much as or more than in traditional cigarettes. Nicotine negatively affects the cardiovascular system (increasing heart rate and blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke), respiratory/lung functioning (including inflammation, asthma and wheezing) and reproductive organs.
Why parents should be concerned
Physicians caring for adolescent patients are quickly realizing the health hazards associated with vaping and are looking for ways to combat the epidemic. First and foremost is education for both the teen and their parents. Teens obtain most of their knowledge on e-cigarettes from social media and their peers. One in three adolescents in the u. S. Still consider electronic cigarettes to be less harmful than traditional combustible cigarettes. 4 it is imperative that teens are given accurate information on e-cigarettes. Unfortunately, parents often face the same challenges in finding resources for vaping education as their children. They rely on schools to educate both the parent and their child on e-cigarettes, yet studies have shown that most parents receive little communication from their school on the topic.
Vaping among preteens and teens has reached a crisis point, according to a 2019 survey , and it threatens to undo years of public health efforts that had led to a decline in nicotine use. Parents should be concerned because: vaping increases the risk of teens developing an addiction to nicotine. Vaping exposes children and teens to harmful metals and toxic chemicals found in e-cigarettes. A mysterious, vaping-related illness is on the rise: e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (evali). To get an update on the latest data and the dangers associated with vaping and e-cigarettes, we spoke with brian jenssen, md, mshp , a primary care pediatrician at children's hospital of philadelphia (chop) and a researcher at chop’s policylab who has worked with the american academy of pediatrics (aap) to shape tobacco policy.
How to talk to kids about vaping
The greatest tool parents have to keep their kids from vaping is open communication. Talk with your kids about the dangers of vaping and emphasize that we don’t yet know just how bad it might be. Make sure that they know e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can have lasting effects on their brain and behavior. Remind them that their brains develop until early adulthood. The surgeon general offers a tip sheet for starting a conversation with your teen about e-cigarettes. Take advantage of teachable moments. You may find an opportunity to talk to your child about vaping when you see a character on tv vaping or someone vaping on the street while driving to school.
Vaping began as a way for adult smokers to quit smoking tobacco and inhaling the harmful chemicals in cigarettes. Some kids may try vaping to help them stop smoking, as they are marketed to adults as a smoking cessation aid, but vaping is not considered safe for non-smokers, teens, and young adults.