O uso de cigarros eletrônicos e convencionais e suas consequências para a saúde: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking, which has existed since prehistoric times, became an epidemic with the invention of the cigarette machine in the 19th century and advertising in the 20th century. Tobacco causes more than 8 million deaths annually, representing a major public health challenge. In addition to traditional cigarettes, hookah and electronic cigarettes are also harmful. The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes among young people is worrying, as these devices are not necessarily safe. The relationship between smoking and cardiovascular disease highlights the need to monitor the onset of tobacco use among young people and to gather evidence on the risks associated with nicotine and tobacco. Objective: To analyze the consequences of the use of electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes on the health of smokers. Material and method: This is a narrative literature review (RNI). The material used in this research was identified in the following databases: Spanish Bibliographic Index in Health Sciences (IBECS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), and Virtual Health Library (BVS), including articles in English, Portuguese, and Spanish published in the last 10 years (2014 to 2024). Results and Discussion: It was observed that the use of electronic cigarettes is more common among men, women, and adolescents aged 12 to 60 years. The review identified dependence as the most frequently mentioned disease, followed by lung and cardiovascular diseases, heart failure and increased heart rate, obesity, airway inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, as well as aspects related to brain development and depression. Interventions suggested to prevent smoking-related diseases include the need to regulate the sale of tobacco products to minors and the promotion of health education about the risks of tobacco use. Conclusion: The use of cigarettes in all their forms, both electronic and conventional, causes harm to the health of the population, making it necessary to implement interventions to prevent use, especially among adolescents.

Keywords: Smoking, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Prevention and Control.