Smoking Raises Heart Attack Risk

Those who smoke both cigarettes and e-cigarettes face significantly greater health problems. Their risk of heart attack and stroke is higher than for cigarette smokers alone. Prof. Dr. Çağlar Çuhadaroğlu, Chief Physician at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital and Chest Disease Specialist, together with Chest Disease Specialist Dr. Feras Hawari—who serves at King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan for international knowledge exchange and is an active figure in the country's anti-tobacco policy—shared e-cigarettes and their harms comprehensively at a meeting attended by specialists.

E-cigarette is like inhaling fumes from a chemical cauldron

Chest Disease Specialist Prof. Dr. Çağlar Çuhadaroğlu stated: "It is possible to say that e-cigarettes are more harmful than regular cigarettes. They cause diseases that are difficult to diagnose. Therefore, preventing their use is very important." Emphasizing that e-cigarettes have far more and different harms than regular cigarettes, Prof. Dr. Çuhadaroğlu explained that despite a ban on their sale in our country, the number of e-cigarette users is increasing daily, and continued: "Besides the known harms of cigarettes, e-cigarettes rapidly lead to difficult-to-diagnose diseases in the airways. Rare diseases are more frequently encountered among e-cigarette users. One of these is disease of small airways in the lungs. This is very common in cigarette smokers. Severe shortness of breath and the sensation of inability to breathe deeply, accompanied by serious lung problems. It causes bleeding in the alveoli, which we call air sacs in the lungs." Regarding e-cigarette use, Prof. Dr. Çuhadaroğlu illustrated the seriousness of the situation with an example: "When asked whether regular cigarettes or e-cigarettes are more harmful, I tell people both are harmful. We know the harms of cigarettes. E-cigarette is like inhaling fumes from a chemical cauldron."

Students who smoke have lower academic performance

Chest Disease Specialist Dr. Feras Hawari is an expert who has conducted numerous international studies on the harms of electronic cigarettes. Recently presenting a conference at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, Dr. Hawari came to our country at the invitation of Chief Physician and Chest Disease Specialist Prof. Dr. Çağlar Çuhadaroğlu at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital and provided information about the harms of e-cigarettes. Cigarettes cause dopamine release in the brain, leading to addiction. Because they affect the frontal part of the brain responsible for decision-making, attention and memory, their effect on young people is greater. Describing a study they conducted last year at King Hussein Cancer Center on university students, Dr. Hawari said: "We found that children who use water pipes or cigarettes had a 30 percent success rate on exams. For non-smokers it is 50 percent. This refutes the argument that students smoke in order to concentrate better."

E-cigarette use among children aged 12-15 is increasing

Dr. Hawari, noting that in the United States one in every 20 adults uses electronic cigarettes and more than 15 percent of them are under 35 years old, stated: "Usage rates are also gradually increasing in universities. It is even a danger for younger children. According to a study published in 2019, among children aged 12-15 with low risk of starting smoking, e-cigarette use is increasing."

"Dual use increases risk of heart attack and stroke"

Electronic cigarettes are often a method preferred by those who want to quit regular cigarette addiction. Specifically emphasizing that this is an incorrect approach, Dr. Hawari said: "After some time, these people switch to dual use. They smoke both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes. This multiplies the harms. Because you are absorbing more toxic materials. In dual use, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. In the United Kingdom, they said in 2015 that e-cigarettes are 95 percent less harmful than regular cigarettes. Now they say they are harmful. Because they can even cause DNA damage."