ALTERACIONES RESPIRATORIAS Y SISTÉMICAS ASOCIADAS AL USO DE CIGARRILLOS ELECTRÓNICOS

Abstract

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes have become novel and popular devices, especially for adolescents and young adults around the world, a trend derived from the poorly founded premise that they may be less harmful than conventional cigarettes, however, there are currently several studies that link the use of these devices with the development of both respiratory and systemic disorders. The objective of this article is to describe the respiratory and systemic alterations derived from the consumption of electronic cigarettes and that can serve to understand the risks involved with their use both in the short and long term. Methodology: An exhaustive search and collection of data and relevant information on this topic was carried out, using as inclusion criteria articles that describe the respiratory and systemic effects associated with the use of electronic cigarettes. Results: Electronic cigarettes are devices that generate an aerosol by vaporizing the liquid they contain, although the compounds present in the vapor generated by these devices appear to be less harmful than those produced by combustion by conventional cigarettes, recent studies indicate the occurrence of a heterogeneous group of respiratory and systemic alterations that can occur after consumption. Conclusions: Health alterations caused by the use of electronic cigarettes have been described, highlighting among them the damage to the lung parenchyma and small respiratory tracts and also at the extrapulmonary level due to the evidence of disorders at the cardiovascular, neurological, integumentary and immunological.