<p>Electronic cigarettes used by smokers trying to quit the lethal habit of smoking can actually cause lung damage, a new study has claimed.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Scientists warn that the devices can trigger changes to the lungs, despite the fact that they are being marketed as a potentially safer alternative to normal cigarettes.<br />The study also added new evidence to the debate over the safety of alternative nicotine-delivery products.<br /><br />Electronic cigarettes are devices that deliver nicotine through a vapour, rather than smoke. There is no combustion involved but the nicotine in the device is still derived from tobacco.<br />There has been much debate over the safety and efficiency of the products, but little scientific evidence to support either claim.<br /><br />Researchers from the University of Athens in Greece aimed to investigate the short-term effects of using e-cigarettes on different people, including people without any known health problems and smokers with and without existing lung conditions.<br /><br />The study included 8 people who had never smoked and 24 smokers, 11 with normal lung function and 13 people with either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.<br /><br />Each personused an electronic cigarette for 10 minutes. The researchers then measured their airway resistance using a number of tests, including a spirometry test. The results showed that for all people, the e-cigarette caused an immediate increase in airway resistance, lasting for 10 minutes. In healthy subjects (never smokers) there was a statistically significant increase in airway resistance from a mean average of 182 to 206 per cent. In smokers with normal spirometry (measuring of breath) there was a statistically significant increase from a mean average of 176 to 220 per cent.<br /></p>
<p>Electronic cigarettes used by smokers trying to quit the lethal habit of smoking can actually cause lung damage, a new study has claimed.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Scientists warn that the devices can trigger changes to the lungs, despite the fact that they are being marketed as a potentially safer alternative to normal cigarettes.<br />The study also added new evidence to the debate over the safety of alternative nicotine-delivery products.<br /><br />Electronic cigarettes are devices that deliver nicotine through a vapour, rather than smoke. There is no combustion involved but the nicotine in the device is still derived from tobacco.<br />There has been much debate over the safety and efficiency of the products, but little scientific evidence to support either claim.<br /><br />Researchers from the University of Athens in Greece aimed to investigate the short-term effects of using e-cigarettes on different people, including people without any known health problems and smokers with and without existing lung conditions.<br /><br />The study included 8 people who had never smoked and 24 smokers, 11 with normal lung function and 13 people with either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.<br /><br />Each personused an electronic cigarette for 10 minutes. The researchers then measured their airway resistance using a number of tests, including a spirometry test. The results showed that for all people, the e-cigarette caused an immediate increase in airway resistance, lasting for 10 minutes. In healthy subjects (never smokers) there was a statistically significant increase in airway resistance from a mean average of 182 to 206 per cent. In smokers with normal spirometry (measuring of breath) there was a statistically significant increase from a mean average of 176 to 220 per cent.<br /></p>