E-cigarettes and tobacco heaters – a healthier alternative or another threat. Literature review

Abstract

Introduction and Objective. Nicotinism has been one of the most common addictions for many years. Tobacco smoking, both active and passive, is a serious social problem. In recent years, alternatives to conventional cigarettes have appeared on the market. The aim of the review is to analyze the latest publications available in PubMed and Google Scholar on the impact of e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters on health, in comparison with conventional tobacco products. Brief description of the state of knowledge. The commonly prevailing myth about the lower harmfulness of these products is being refuted more and more often. In many cases, they have a similar effect to traditional cigarettes on the organs, inter alia interfering with the functioning of the circulatory and respiratory systems. Due to the high concentration of nicotine, they can interfere with the development of the central nervous system, and their impact on fertility has also become the subject of research. It is extremely important for the health of the young generation due to the increasingly frequent use of these products by adolescents and young adults. E-cigarettes are not without impact on health and although in some aspects they may cause less organ toxicity than traditional cigarettes, it is extremely disturbing that they can lead to diseases that were not previously associated with nicotinism, e.g. by disturbing the proper functioning of the liver. Summary. When reviewing scientific papers, many ambiguities and even contradictions in the assessment of the risk of using these products are still found. Although the overall assessment of health effects indicates their possible harmfulness, their potential use in the treatment of nicotinism cannot be overlooked.