The American Medical Association has urged citizens to stop smoking any type of e-cigarette until scientists have better information on the cause of 450 cases of lung disease and the deaths of at least five people for use.

The Society, one of the most influential physician groups in the United States, called on doctors to inform patients about the dangers of e-cigarettes, including toxic and carcinogenic substances, and to promptly inform the state or local health authorities of any suspected lung disease for a cigarette-related cause.

The recommendations follow advice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday for people to consider not using electronic cigarette products until they investigate the cause of a wave of lung disease-related e-smoking.

Megan Constantino, a 36-year-old citizen, quit electronic smoking six days ago when she heard reports of injuries and related deaths.

"I was so scared to take off," she said. Many of those who resorted to e-smoking were awaiting the results of the investigation on the warmest of coals.

"We should not stand idly by while e-cigarettes remain uncontrolled," said Patris Harris, president of the American Medical Association, in a statement. "We urge the Food and Drug Administration to expedite the regulation of e-cigarettes and to remove all unregulated products from the market."

The president of the American E-Smoking Association Gregory Conley criticized the medical association, accusing it of "spreading fear of e-smoking products using nicotine", while not mentioning the "real risks" of e-smoking using illegal substances.

Disable lung function
A recent US study has warned a few days ago that chronic exposure to electronic cigarette smoke disrupts normal lung function, and also reduces the ability of immune cells in the lungs to cope with viral infection.

The study, conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in the United States, and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigations (Journal of Clinical Investigation).

E-cigarettes work through a heat heater to heat a liquid containing the nicotine inside, turning the liquid into the nicotine vapor that smokers inhale rather than burning as is done in regular cigarettes.

The team conducted a study of mice to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to e-cigarette vapors and conventional tobacco smoke on lung function.

The team observed four groups of mice, the first exposed to nicotine-containing e-cigarette smoke in common vapor solvents, the second to nicotine-free e-cigarette vapors, and the third group to conventional tobacco smoke, and the fourth to e-cigarettes.

The mice were exposed to tobacco smoke or e-cigarette vapors for four months, a period equivalent to the exposure of a person who started smoking in his teens until the age of five.

Researchers found that traditional tobacco smoking significantly increases the risk of emphysema, a condition in which air bags damage the lungs, causing shortness of breath.

They also found that mice, who were chronically exposed to nicotine-containing e-cigarette smoke, suffered severe lung damage and excessive infections similar to those found in human smokers with emphysema.

Damage to the lungs
Unexpectedly, the researchers observed that nicotine-free electronic cigarette smoke, which some consider safe, caused damage to the lungs.

The researchers also observed abnormal fat accumulation in the lungs, which disrupted the normal lung structure and function, and decreased the ability of immune lung cells to respond to influenza viruses.

She said d. "The study revealed that e-cigarette vapors negatively affect the function of immune cells in the lungs. These cells represent the first line of defense against viral infections such as those caused by the influenza virus," the study's lead researcher, Farah Khirmand, said.

She added: electronic cigarettes are currently the most common alternatives to tobacco among adolescents, where more than three million of them and about ten million adults in the United States.

Previous studies have revealed that flavors used by e-cigarettes cause inflammatory and oxidative responses in lung cells.

The effects of these flavors extend to the blood, they are toxic and cause the programmed death of white blood cells.