A man smokes an electronic cigarette vaporizer, also known as an e-cigarette, in Toronto, August 7, 2015. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
MANILA, Philippines — Many are under the impression that because e-cigarettes or vapes do not contain tobacco, they pose little risk to health.
“Noong mga time na nag-switch na nga ako sa vaping, medyo gumanda ‘yung pakiramdam ko. Kasi dati hypertensive ako. Mataas lagi ‘yung blood pressure ko noong naninigarilyo ako,” said KM Konstantino, a vape shop administrator.
(During the time that I switched to vaping I started feeling better. I used to be hypertensive. My blood pressure was always high when I used to smoke.)
Nowadays, shops that sell vapes have mushroomed in different parts of the country and have mostly enticed the youth.
Vapes are used as an alternative to cigarette smoking.
Based on reports of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Research (NCHR), chemicals used in vaporized nicotine cigarettes or vapes are toxic and carcinogenic or can cause cancer.
The Department of Health agrees that e-cigarettes still contains nicotine.
“Iyong addiction sa nicotine, it promotes cancer, mga inflammation, mga sakit na asthma. So nandoon pa rin yung ill effects ng nicotine,” said DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo.
(The addiction to nicotine promotes cancer, inflammation and asthma. So the ill effects of nicotine are still present.)
Domingo added that vapes are not on the list of scientifically proven and expert recommended alternatives to smoking.
Thus, the agency is planning to regulate the use of vapes or e-cigarettes across the country.
“Anywhere from regulation at tsaka iyong pagbabawal kung saan ibinabawal ang sigarilyo, kung saan ibinabawal ang usok,” said the undersecretary.
(Anywhere from regulation to prohibition in places where cigarettes and smoke are not allowed.)
— Aiko Miguel | UNTV News & Rescue
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