In light of increasing reports of e-cigarette-associated lung illnesses in the US, the Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Center has urged the public to avoid the use of e-cigarette products.
E-cigarettes and vaping devices contain harmful chemicals and substances that can cause serious health problems, said Dr, Jamal Abdualla Basuhai, Smoking Cessation Specialist at the Tobacco Control Center.
“Apart from nicotine, e-cigarettes contain additional harmful substances that can adversely affect the respiratory system and cause serious deadly lung diseases. The substances can also cause high blood pressure, seizures, coma and death. E- cigarettes are banned in Qatar. Sale, distribution and advertising of e-cigarettes in the country is an offence. But some use e-cigarettes, which are bought illegally into the country,” he said yesterday.
Dr. Basuhai, warned that e-cigarette smoking adolescents are highly likely to continue to regular cigarettes later.
E-cigarettes use a battery-powered device that heats a liquid to form vapours. These devices heat up various potentially harmful substances.
“Many think that e-cigarettes are thought to be safer than traditional cigarettes. But e-cigarettes kill up to half of all lifetime users, according to the World Health Organization,” said Noor El Nakib, Health Awareness and Quality Management Coordinator at the Tobacco Control Center.
She urged people not to start smoking e-cigarettes for fun or for quitting any tobacco products. “At recent times we see an increase in people using e-cigarettes. Thought they are not in big numbers we see it as a merging trend especially among the adolescents. During our awareness programs and at clinics we come across many who have the misconception that e-cigarettes are ‘healthy’ and can be an alternative to the traditional cigarettes,” said El Nakib.
She also emphasised that in order to stop cigarette smoking or consumption of tobacco, it is essential to visit the smoking secession clinics at the Tobacco Control Center.