Electronic cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco products, which have become increasingly common in recent years, can negatively affect organs and systems throughout the body, particularly the lungs.
Experts warn that these products can cause serious respiratory problems and permanent lung damage in both the short and long term, while increasing the risk of addiction, especially among young people.
They also warn that flavors, fruit tastes and colorful, eye-catching designs can make these products more appealing to young people and increase the risk of them taking up smoking.
Experts say parents need to be more aware of e-cigarettes and vapes, particularly their distinct appearance and smell, while young people should be educated about the health risks and potential for addiction.
Dr. Ayşe Bahadır, head of the Pulmonary Diseases Clinic at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, said electronic cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco products have become increasingly widespread over the past 20 years.
Bahadır said the products can affect organs and systems throughout the body, particularly the respiratory system, with young people especially vulnerable to their effects.
She said e-cigarettes were initially promoted as a way to quit smoking, but called the claim misleading, stressing that the products contain toxic chemicals.
One of the most serious short-term effects, Bahadır said, is damage to the tiny air sacs in the lungs, known as alveoli, caused by inhaled substances. The damage can affect lung tissue and become permanent.
In severe cases, she added, the damage can lead to a condition known as e-cigarette-associated lung injury, which can cause respiratory failure and require intensive care.
"They reach the lungs when inhaled and can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, over time, while also causing respiratory failure in acute cases," she said.
She added that the products can be particularly harmful for people with asthma, increasing the frequency of attacks and making the condition harder to control. Bahadır also noted that e-cigarettes and vapes have become particularly popular among young people, who often see them as "cool" products.
Bahadır said the tobacco industry has deliberately made these products more appealing to young people, adding fruit flavors and sweeteners to attract them. She said this has helped make e-cigarettes and vapes increasingly appealing to young people.
Some e-cigarettes and vapes are small enough to look like USB memory sticks and can come in colorful designs, Bahadır said, making them easy for children to use without their parents noticing.
She urged young people who have never smoked or used tobacco not to start using these products out of curiosity, warning that they can eventually lead to conventional cigarette use.
Studies show that people who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to smoke cigarettes, she said, turning products once promoted as a way to quit smoking into a potential pathway to cigarette use.
Bahadır urged young people to stay away from the products, instead encouraging them to exercise, spend time in fresh air and protect their lungs from harmful substances.
She also warned parents that e-cigarettes are often harder to detect because they produce less odor than conventional cigarettes.
"If you walk into a young person's room and smell a strong fruity scent, it could be a flavored e-cigarette. Parents should be aware of this, talk to their children and support them," she said.
Professor Dr. Kültegin Ögel, a psychiatrist, said e-cigarettes can give the impression that they are harmless, leading young people to use them without fully recognizing the risks.
Recent studies show that e-cigarettes carry a similar risk of addiction to conventional cigarettes, Ögel said. "They pose an even greater risk in terms of addiction because they contain more nicotine than tobacco," he said.
But nicotine is not the only factor, Ögel said. Flavors can make the products more appealing to children and young people and encourage more frequent use.
The color and smell of e-cigarettes can also reinforce addictive behavior, he said, as these sensory cues can become associated with the experience of using the products.
Ögel said e-cigarettes and similar products can negatively affect brain development, particularly in young people. He also warned that their stimulating effects can take a toll on the throat and lungs.
"We see many children coming in with serious respiratory problems," he said.
Ögel said raising awareness among both young people and their parents should be a priority. He noted that many young people are unaware that these products are banned and do not recognize them as tobacco or nicotine products.
"These products cause addiction much faster than many other products," he said. "Ultimately, there is no difference in terms of addiction."
He said the lack of awareness extends to parents, who may not recognize an e-cigarette when they find one in their child's bag. "We need to recognize that this is a serious health and addiction problem," he said.
Ögel said research shows that addiction often begins with cigarettes and other nicotine products. He also warned that e-cigarettes and similar products could potentially contain other drugs.
