Electronic cigarettes undermine the immune system

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Private University have identified the harmful effects of a pair of electronic cigarettes on the lungs of mice. As a result of experiments on mice, it was found that inhalation of steam undermines the immune system and impairs the ability of the lungs to fight viral and bacterial infections. In addition, it turned out that steam contains free radicals.

In the course of the experiments, half of the mice breathed fresh air, and the less fortunate ones breathed in pairs of Njoy brand cigarettes for two weeks. Then, part of the mice were exposed to the influenza virus, part - to pneumococci, causing pneumonia. The mice that inhaled the pairs of electronic cigarettes coped much worse with the infections — they hurt harder and recovered longer, lost more weight. Mortality among mice inhaled steam was twice as high as that of those who did not breathe them.


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It is not clear what exactly leads to similar results. One option is free radicals, abundantly present in the pair. The researchers did not expect to meet them in a pair - usually they are present in cigarette smoke in elevated concentrations due to the combustion process. However, it turns out that even heating of an aromatic liquid is sufficient for their occurrence, although in a pair there are two orders of magnitude less than in smoke.

In the human body there is a natural balance of antioxidants and free radicals. In case of its violation, which may occur due to the influence of a large number of free radicals, so-called "Oxidative stress." Stress effects on lipids, proteins and DNA can lead to the development of various diseases, from cancer to Parkinson's disease.

Another candidate for the pest could be propylene glycol , which is added to electronic cigarettes to create steam. It is used, in particular, in smoke generators. People who work with them often have similar lung problems.



Electronic cigarettes have gained much popularity lately due to aggressive marketing. Manufacturers rest on the fact that it is a great way to stop smoking regular cigarettes. Also advertised their lack of harmful effects on health. However, this is a marketing ploy - since these devices appeared quite recently, no one can know what effect on health they have in the long term.