World Heart Federation calls for strict regulation of e-cigarettes

In a new policy brief, the World Heart Federation (WHF) is calling on governments to introduce stricter regulations on e-cigarettes and greater oversight of marketing and sales strategies to stop the e-cigarette epidemic.

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, have become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional cigarettes, particularly among young people. This is primarily due to aggressive marketing strategies and misleading claims by manufacturers, which have led to a widespread belief that e-cigarettes are a healthy option compared to regular tobacco cigarettes. These claims, however, appear to ignore the growing number of studies that link e-cigarettes to a range of health issues, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The long-term health effects of e-cigarettes remain largely unknown, but studies have found that e-cigarettes contain and produce dangerous substances which can affect the heart, respiratory system and brain. And while there is some evidence that vaping can help smokers quit, it has been found to have the opposite effect on non-smokers, who are more likely to start smoking after taking up vaping.

The effectiveness of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools has been brought into question by multiple studies, which have shown that smokers who start using e-cigarettes often become dual users of both traditional and electronic cigarettes. In fact, a growing body of research shows that e-cigarettes are unhealthy products designed to be addictive and hook first time users, particularly teenagers – a key target market for e-cigarettes manufacturers.