Two studies: one published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine last month, and a previous one in BMC Pulmonary Medicine last October, both indicated such links. The research was conducted via a telephone survey of adults, prompting the researchers to caution that self-reports via telephone surveys may not be wholly reliable.
“Although e-cigarettes may turn out to be safer overall than traditional combustible cigarettes, our studies add to growing evidence that they carry health risks,” said Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “These studies are the first in a series of larger and long-term studies that will more definitively provide evidence to inform tobacco users and regulators.”
Vaping should only be taken up for harm reduction/smoking cessation purposes
Meanwhile, an earlier study by award winning and renowned expert in tobacco harm reduction Prof. Riccardo Polosa, titled “Health effects in COPD smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes: a retrospective-prospective 3-year follow-up”, had indicated that COPD patients who had completely switched to e-cigarettes, reported improved respiratory symptoms. Meanwhile those who continued to smoke, experienced no change in either measure of disease severity.
“The present study suggests that EC (e-cigarette) use may ameliorate objective and subjective COPD outcomes and that the benefits gained may persist long-term. EC use may reverse some of the harm resulting from tobacco smoking in COPD patients,” concluded Polosa at the time.
Significantly safer than smoking
Similarly, a comprehensive review also conducted by Polosa last August, which was carried out with the aim of analysing the effects of vaping on lung health in comparison to those of smoking, had confirmed once again that vaping is much less harmful.
“We critically assess published research on the respiratory system investigating the effects of ECs in pre-clinical models, clinical studies of people who switched to ECs from tobacco cigarettes, and population surveys. We assess the studies for the quality of their methodology and accuracy of their interpretation. To adequately assess the impact of EC use on human health, addressing common mistakes and developing robust and realistic methodological recommendations is an urgent priority,” read the study Abstract.
“The findings of this review indicate that ECs under normal conditions of use demonstrate far fewer respiratory risks than combustible tobacco cigarettes. EC users and smokers considering ECs have the right to be informed about the relative risks of EC use, and to be made aware that findings of studies published by the media are not always reliable,” concluded Polosa once again.
Read Further: EurekAlert!
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