THE USE OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND ITS IMPACTS ON HEALTH: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: the cardiorespiratory system supplies oxygen to cells and removes carbon dioxide. Respiration begins through the nose/mouth, carrying air to the lungs in the thoracic cavity. Obstruction in the respiratory pathways increases air flow resistance, impacting gas exchange. Smoking, responsible for millions of annual deaths, is a chronic condition associated with various diseases, particularly affecting the young. Although electronic cigarettes are considered less harmful, they still contain toxic substances like nicotine and carcinogens. Lack of regulation and marketing strategies targeting youth are additional concerns. METHODOLOGY: this study is an integrative review of the literature, which is based on the guiding question: “What health impacts can the use of electronic cigarettes cause?”. In which the selection of articles, the search was carried out through the VHL through the indexed databases LILACS, MEDLINE and BDEN. Based on the descriptors registered in DeSC: “Electronic cigarette”, “Nicotine”, “Health”. Combined with the Boolean operator “AND”. The inclusion criteria were adopted: complete articles, published in the last 5 years, in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The following were excluded: theses, monographs, dissertations and works that were not in accordance with the theme. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: among the results presented, the significant increase in the use of these electronic devices in recent years stands out, along with the growth in cases of lung injury associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, also affecting other organs and systems. It is crucial to understand the physiological changes caused in the body by the use of these devices and disseminate such information so that it becomes public knowledge and serves as data for health promotion and prevention. Furthermore, it was evident that these devices cause several harms to the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, resulting in significant impairment and putting users at risk for various pathologies. CONCLUSION: despite the lack of literary approach and ongoing studies on the use of electronic cigarettes and their impacts on health, the damage caused by these devices and the pathological changes they can trigger in the body, including oxidative and inflammatory reactions, are already noticeable, harming maintaining the individual's health. Therefore, it is crucial to carry out more research on the subject, considering the exponential increase in users in recent years and the level of lack of knowledge about the side effects of this practice.