‘Omg – how sad' people say as mum-of-two sparks horror by sharing snap of her toddler ‘vaping'

The Sun

2 days ago

A MOTHER-OF-TWO has sparked horror after sharing a photo of her toddler ''vaping''.
Alysha Elsom left social media users horrified after posting a series of snaps of her adorable tots - one of which also included a photo of a little girl holding what, at first glance, seemed to be a vape.
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The snap, which has since taken the internet by storm for all the wrong seasons, sees one of Alysha's daughters dressed up in a cute pink outfit, as well as an adorable bow on her head.
However, what really caught the attention of more than 500k fellow TikTokers was the plastic blue item the tot was holding.
Due to the shape and the vibrant colour of the object thousands of gobsmacked people quickly - and wrongly - assumed that the girl was puffing on a vape.
The experts at NHS warn that vaping is not for children and young people. Their developing lungs and brains mean they are more sensitive to its effects.
Although nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking, it is not risk-free.
That's why there's a minimum age of sale for vaping products in the UK.
It is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to anyone under 18 or for adults to buy them on behalf of under-18s.
Additionally, exposure of children and adolescents to nicotine in vaping solutions can lead to long-term negative impacts on brain development, as well as addiction, as reported by Science Direct.
They added that many teenagers who vape experience poor concentration, anxiety, mood disorders and sleep disturbance.
A paper from NEJM in 2022 reported a case series where chronic vaping resulted in small airway fibrosis of the airways - a condition where the lungs become scarred, making it difficult to breathe.
Police raid largest spice vapes operation after kids were left hospitalised
'Did I see that correctly?'
Posted just two days ago, the clip has already taken the platform by storm, racking up close to an astronomical 560k views, 20k likes, as well as almost 800 shares.
Over 500 people flooded to comments in sheer horror, with many totally aghast at what they had just seen.
The 4 horrifying things that can happen to your body after vaping
VAPES were once hailed as miracle devices to help adults ditch cigarettes.
But while the devices don't carry the same risks as tobacco, experts have warned that vaping might not be so harmless after all.
Here are five ways vaping could damage young users bodies:
1. It could slow down brain development
Vaping nicotine can permanently affect brain development in people under the age of 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It said that nicotine consumed during teenage years can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, as well as increase the risk of addiction.
2. It could lead to tooth decay
Dr Michael Heffernan, a dentist at The Wessex Dental Specialist Care, said most vapes contain dangerous chemical that can harm your teeth and lead to decay.
Puffing on the devices could also lead to mouth dryness, creating an environment in which harmful bacteria can grow.
3. It could damage heart health
However, some of the chemicals found in vapes can be damaging to the heart, with the American Heart Association (AHA) stating that vaping is "as harmful to the body's cardiovascular systems as cigarettes".
4. It could cause lung disease
Vaping from a young age could leave children with breathing difficulties, with paediatric respiratory consultant Dr Mike McKean saying he'd seen reports of people developing lung disease related to vaping.
Researchers from the US also found that young people who vape are more at risk of bronchitis, inflammation of the airways, and shortness of breath.
Read more on how vaping can affect your health here.
''Did i see that correctly..?!'' one was baffled.
''no way u guys genuinely thought her baby was holding a vape,'' a second wrote.
''got scared for sec,'' someone else chimed in, as another dubbed it ''so sad''.
''Why is the vape in the baby mouth,'' a fourth commented.
''fully thought it was a lost mary,'' a TikToker said.
After the short clip left thousands gobsmacked, mum Alysha explained what really was going on in the photo - revealing that it was actually ''a toy thermometer''.
This was also backed up by another mum who hit back at the trolls, writing: ''It's a peppa pig thermometer my wee girl has the same thing.''
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