(Mirror Daily, United States) – Recent research has shown that e-cigarettes might be as dangerous as normal cigarettes. Over the last few years, these electronic devices have been regarded as a possible replacement for traditional cigarettes.

However, many experts stated that people should be encouraged to quit smoking instead of receiving poor replacements that will do nothing more than keeping them addicted to nicotine. Plus, the costs are the same and even higher.

In addition to this, researchers have now accounted also for the consequences of e-cigarettes on our immune system. During the latest study, a team of scientists analyzed and compared the gene-expression profiles in e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers.

Based on the results, they established that the use of e-cigarettes leads to significant changes in the nasal mucosa. More precisely, these abnormalities occur in the immune-related gene expression. It is also worth mentioning that these changes have been previously observed in cigarette smokers, meaning that e-cigarettes might have the same effect on our organism as traditional cigarettes.

Nevertheless, further research is needed in order to determine the whole variety of consequences brought by the use of e-cigarettes. Until now, experts are positive that these electronic devices and everything that implies vaping definitely have an effect on the health of consumers.

According to Ilona Jaspers, Ph.D. of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, latest research has proved that e-cigarettes are clearly not a safe alternative for smokers. Furthermore, the data collected until now showed that further investigation is needed to establish the specific risks of using these electronic devices.

She also stated that vaping affects the respiratory immune health, so everyone must be aware of this fact. Worse, based on the results of the latest study, participants who were e-cigarettes users had a greater impact on their gene-expression profile compared to the participants who were cigarette smokers.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no smoke-free law in Southeast states, at least not one that would prevent teenagers and children to start smoking. According to Corinne Graffunder, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, such a regulation is very useful as it helps smokers quit, improve indoor air quality, and it changes people’s perspective.

Plus, smoke-free laws also reduce asthma hospitalizations and decrease the risk of heart attack among Americans who are non-smokers. Hopefully, scientists will find out more about the use of e-cigarettes as soon as possible in order to raise awareness about the potential risks of using these electronic devices.

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