Indian doctors support WHO's ban on vapes, urge govt to take action

A day after the World Health Organization WHO urged governments to treat ecigarettes akin to tobacco and impose a ban on all flavours health experts in India have called on the government to take immediate actionThe plea is coupled with an appeal to the nations youth to renounce smoking in all its formsWhile ecigarettes commonly known as vapes have been considered by some as a potential tool in mitigating the adverse health effects associated with traditional smoking the WHO contends that urgent measures are required to control the growing use of vapesAlso Read Are vapes really a safer alternative to cigarettesIn India a concerning trend has emerged with more 1315yearolds using vapes than adults pointing to the aggressive marketing strategies employed to lure the younger demographicLike other WHO countries 1315yearolds and even adults are using vapes in India Aggressive marketing of vapes has attracted the younger population more towards it There are enough studies and sufficient evidence that vapes also create health problems affecting the lungs It might help tobacco smokers quit but they are harmful to health and could drive nicotine addiction among nonsmokers especially children and young people Dr Col Vijay Dutta Internal Medicine amp Pulmonologist Indian Spinal Injuries Centre ISIC New Delhi told IANSThe experts emphasise that vapes cannot serve as a viable substitute for tobacco smokingThe annual death toll of over 867 million attributed to tobacco use underscores the urgency of addressing this public health crisisWe cannot endorse the industrys claim that vapes pose significantly lower health risks than tobacco Youngsters are falling into the trap of using ecigarettes early on and may become addicted to nicotine Stringent measures are imperative and a blanket ban could be the most effective solution This includes bans on all flavouring agents such as menthol and applying tobacco control measures to vapes Dr Soumya Mukherjee Consultant BMT Haematology amp Haemato Oncology at Narayana Hospital Howrah told IANSThe WHO said that while the longterm health risks of vapes remain unclear they generate substances known to cause cancer pose risks to heart and lung health and could impact brain development in young peopleIn India where tobacco use is a leading risk factor for premature deaths the urgency to address this issue is underscored by the experts who assert that tobacco use is among the unhealthy behaviours responsible for a preventable burden of cancers strokes and heart diseasesNicotine and vaping products can have serious negative effects on the health of children and adolescents Inhalation of nicotine through vaping can harm developing brains impacting memory attention and impulse control Nicotine is highly addictive and early exposure increases the risk of lifelong addiction Dr Nehal Shah Consultant Paediatrician SRCC Hospital Mumbai told IANSDr Shah said it is crucial to educate youth about the risks associated with nicotine and vaping promoting awareness to prevent the initiation of these harmful habits and safeguard the wellbeing of future generations Any kind of smoking is highly discouraged in kids and actions must be taken to quit smokingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever