Increased Sleep Latency in Dual-use of E-cigarettes with Conventional Tobacco

The popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping devices such as JUUL have spiked in the last few years, especially amongst adolescents and young adults.

The e-cigarette or vaping device use-associated lung injury epidemic that started in 2019 illuminated the dangers of inhaling chemicals contained within these vaping aerosols. Moreover, since active agents like nicotine and marijuana have an immediate impact on activating pathways of the central nervous system (CNS), inhalation of aerosols from e-devices may impact sleep.

Scientists previously showed that females who smoke both conventional tobacco and vape e-cigarettes (dual users) had decreased sleep quality (measurement of how well an individual is sleeping) and increased sleep latency (amount of time to fall asleep), suggesting an influence by gender.

Cough is also known to adversely impact sleep quality and may be caused by inhalant use. Dual-use was also associated with increased cough, such that cough may be the primary contributor to increased sleep latency.

Finally, dual-use was associated with the highest use of cocaine, marijuana, DMT, and opiates across inhalant users.

This work suggests that dual usage of e-cigarettes with conventional tobacco is associated with adverse outcomes on sleep, including increased amounts of time to fall asleep.

Published: 15 February 2022

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06445-8

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06445-8