A new study published by the American Heart Association revealed that those who smoke hookah have an increased risk of heart disease.
With the rise of “smokeless” products like JUUL, Hookah and vaporizers, people often assume that these products are a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. According to the 2017 national Youth Tobacco Survey, 2 million middle school, high school and college students use e-cigarettes.
Won Hee Lee, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is researching the potential cardiovascular susceptibility associated with the use of e-cigarettes.
Dr. Lee is available for interviews along with Frank Lovecchio, DO, MPH, vice-chair for Research at the Maricopa Emergency Medicine Residency and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Other pertinent facts about e-cigarettes:
- In 2016, 11 percent of high schoolers and 4 percent of middle schoolers reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. E-cigarettes are the most commonly-used tobacco product among youth.
- Youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke traditional cigarettes in the future. These devices mimic conventional cigarette use and help normalize smoking behaviors.
- Most vaping solutions contain nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and has neurotoxic effects on developing brains.
- There are emerging concerns that the vapor harms lung growth and function. Long-term health effects on users and bystanders are still unknown. In some cases, these devices have exploded, causing burns or fires.
- US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, declared e-cigarette usage among youth an epidemic in the United States.
About the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to optimize health and health care in Arizona and beyond. By cultivating collaborative research locally and globally, the college accelerates discovery in a number of critical areas — including cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cardiovascular disease. Championed as a student-centric campus, the college has graduated 433 physicians, all of whom received exceptional training from nine clinical partners and 1,800 diverse faculty members. As the anchor to the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, which is projected to have an economic impact of $3.1 billion by 2025, the college prides itself on engaging with the community, fostering education, inclusion, access and advocacy. For more information, please visit phoenixmed.arizona.edu.