Vaping doubles risk of youngsters smoking real cigarettes and is linked to heart problems, report claims
VAPING doubles the risk of youngsters smoking real cigarettes and is linked to heart problems, a report claims.
E-cigarettes raise blood pressure, heart rate and the risk of blood clots, say researchers who pooled study findings.
They accuse the e-cigs industry of marketing to teenagers — and warn that it leads many to try tobacco cigarettes.
Professor Maja-Lisa Løchen, of UiT The Arctic University of Norway, said: "Vaping is marketed towards teenagers and the tobacco industry uses celebrities to promote it as being healthier than smoking.
"Legislation on the marketing and sales of e-cigarettes varies enormously between countries.
"Action is urgently needed to halt the growing use in young people.
"The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that e-cigarettes are harmful to health.
"E-cigarettes are a relatively new product and the long-term health effects are unknown.
"Now is the time for politicians and regulators to act - with public health campaigns to increase awareness and legislation to halt uptake in young people."
Researchers are also asking for e-cigarettes to only be considered as an option for people looking to quit as patches and gum have failed.
The report outlines the views of the European Society of Cardiology.
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