Studying the effects of electronic cigarettes on students' health

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Introduction. Currently, the use of electronic cigarettes and vapes is widespread among young people. An electronic cigarette is a device that creates a highly dispersed aerosol designed for inhalation. The electronic devices consist of: a battery and a microprocessor, a sensor, a nebulizer and a liquid cartridge that completely simulate tobacco smoking. A distinctive feature is the variety of flavors and the absence of unpleasant odor. Electronic cigarettes and vapes have become widespread, advertised as harmless compared to conventional cigarettes and capable of quitting smoking.
However, young people, under the influence of advertising, are becoming one of the most vulnerable groups, and the proposal to use electronic cigarettes contradicts their original idea of quitting smoking. The fascination with this product can lead not only to the formation of the opposite effect, dependence on nicotine, but also to many negative disorders not only of physical, but also of mental health.
Our country ranks first in the world in tobacco consumption. In Russia, 40% of the population smokes. Every year, 400,000 people die from smoking-related diseases. Scientists have investigated the issues of risk and danger leading to deaths. The risk from smoking came first (41.4%), followed by alcohol consumption (27.6%), transport accidents (13.8%), firearms and military conflicts (4.6%), natural disasters (4.4%), electric shock (3.8%). Other types of risk (surgical intervention, collapse of large structures, etc.) account for 4.4% of the death toll. Thus, it can be stated that smoking is one of the causes leading to death[1]
It is worth noting that not only nicotine, which forms addiction, adversely affects the young body. Other chemicals contained in vapes also have a destructive effect [2]. For example, metals such as nickel, lead, and cadmium contained in cartridges, fillers, and aerosols They damage the nervous, respiratory, endocrine, digestive, cardiovascular and excretory systems. Propylene glycol and flavorings cause allergic reactions up to the development of bronchial asthma, suppurative processes, impaired liver and kidney function. Pentabromobiphenyl esters, which ensure that the device does not heat up, disrupt the production of thyroid hormones, disrupt the regulation of the heart and brain [3, 4]. Electronic cigarettes contain a huge amount of harmful substances that adversely affect the body.
This article is aimed at studying the impact of electronic cigarettes on the health of students, as well as at offering recommendations for the prevention of smoking in an educational environment.

The purpose of the work. To study the impact of e-cigarettes on students' health and propose effective preventive measures to combat smoking.
Materials and methods of research. A survey and survey of 53 students aged 14-24 was conducted, as well as a mathematical analysis of the results obtained. Study and analysis of scientific and practical literature.
The results of the study. It was revealed that the percentage of non-smokers is 58.5%, of which 13.2% used to smoke, but now they don't. The percentage of smokers was 41.5%. 84.3% of smokers use electronic cigarettes or vapes.
Most of the respondents started smoking at the age of 13-16, which corresponds to adolescence and, as a result, the desire to look older, their decision was influenced by the environment. 96.2% are aware of the harm of smoking, and 50% of smokers have noticed changes in the respiratory system after smoking. 19.3% of smokers experienced cough after smoking, 22.6% experienced difficulty breathing, and 48.4% experienced increased heart rate before or during smoking. 45.1% of the surveyed smokers noticed shortness of breath, and 12% associate headaches with smoking. Respondents consider the influence of habit on sleep to be the least important criterion for the harmful effects of smoking, 3.8% of respondents noted it, and 74.1% of students did not change their appetite.
Unfortunately, due to their age characteristics, adolescents do not fully realize the extent of the harmful effects of smoking [5, 6].
Effective prevention of smoking among students requires an integrated approach that includes education and support from all stakeholders. We will propose several effective measures that can be implemented both in educational institutions and in society as a whole. 1. Educational programs and trainings aimed at informing young people about the dangers of smoking, and studying the components of electronic cigarettes, the knowledge of which will make young people think about the harm caused by the devices. 2. The organization of events aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle also has a positive impact on the psychological health of the younger generation. Engaging parents who can not only support children as they enter adulthood, but also set a positive example.
3. The use of modern technologies, applications that can track progress in quitting smoking and provide advice on how to combat addiction.
Conclusion. According to the results of the study, it was revealed:
Of the 53 students surveyed, slightly less than half (41.5%) smoke. The use of electronic cigarettes and vapes is most popular among young people, and the majority of students who smoke – 84.3% prefer them to regular cigarettes. According to the latest data, vapes contain many chemicals that adversely affect the smoker, having a harmful effect on all body systems. Although vapes are actively promoted as an alternative to smoking and an easy way to quit smoking, this is not true, and many aspects are still poorly understood.
Starting to smoke from adolescence, under the influence of advertising and listening to the opinion of peers, about half of smokers over a five-year period have already noticed changes in the work of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems in the form of coughing after smoking (19.3%), difficulty breathing (22.6%) and shortness of breath (45.1%). palpitations (48.4%) and headaches (12%). Despite the fact that almost everyone (96.2%) knows about the dangers of smoking, only 13.2% of students quit smoking.
Therefore, we believe that creating a healthy environment and informing both children and their parents about the dangers of smoking and the risks of using e-cigarettes will help create a healthy and happy society.

About the authors

Daria Sergeevna Cherkasova

Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin

Author for correspondence.
Email: dashulya_sherkasova@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-9670-2791

Student

Russian Federation, Sovetskaya St., Tambov, 392000, Russia/Kommunalnaya, 93/2

Irina Aleksandrovna Ribina

Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin

Email: irina2005rb@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-9926-4235

Student

Russian Federation, Sovetskaya St., Tambov, 392000, Russia/Kommunalnaya, 93/2

Svetlana Valerievna Voropaeva

Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin

Email: Vrpaevas@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-7712-2237

PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases and Faculty Therapy of TSU named after G. R. Derzhavin

Russian Federation, Sovetskaya St., Tambov, 392000, Russia/Kommunalnaya, 93/2

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