Vaping is harming children's health, cardiologists warn

Doctors have raised the alarm about high levels of vaping among children worldwide, saying they are "convinced" e-cigarettes are causing "irreversible" harm to their health.

- Andrew Gregory

Cardiologists, researchers and health experts said they were "extremely concerned" about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on millions of teenagers and young people, including exposure to toxins and carcinogens - some of which are still unknown.

Nicotine levels in e-cigarettes can be very high, raising the risk of addiction and injury to the developing brains of adolescents. Children are also risking long-term cardiovascular effects as a result of vaping at school and college, experts said.

Speaking at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual congress in Madrid, the world's largest heart conference, Prof Maja-Lisa Løchen, a senior cardiologist at the University hospital of North Norway, said she was concerned that millions of children could face future ill health.

"I worry that vaping may be causing irreversible harm to children's brains and hearts. Of course we have to wait for long-term data, but I am concerned. It increases your blood pressure, your heart rate, and we know that the arteries become more stiff." Repeatedly vaping can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm, stroke and even a heart attack, she said.