Research confirms electronic cigarettes pose cardiovascular risks, despite marketing suggesting otherwise. Here are evidence-based facts regarding vaping’s impact on heart health:
Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Vaping
- Nicotine Elevates Heart Rate & Blood Pressure: Nicotine, present in most e-cigarettes, acts as a stimulant. This triggers catecholamine release, increasing heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and myocardial oxygen demand, imposing strain on the heart.
- Oxidative Stress & Inflammation: Vaping exposes users to free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This contributes significantly to endothelial dysfunction (impaired blood vessel lining) and promotes systemic inflammation – key precursors to atherosclerosis.
- Flavoring Compound Toxicity: Certain chemical flavorings, like diacetyl and cinnamaldehyde, exhibit direct cytotoxicity and impair endothelial cell function in laboratory studies. Their long-term cardiovascular effects in humans require further investigation.
- Increased Arterial Stiffness: Studies demonstrate acute increases in arterial stiffness following e-cigarette use. Chronic stiffness is a known predictor of adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke.
- Impaired Vascular Function: Both short-term and chronic vaping are linked to compromised flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a key indicator of blood vessel health, and heightened platelet activation/reactivity, increasing thrombosis risk.
While potentially less harmful than combustible cigarettes in some aspects, substantial evidence indicates e-cigarettes are not risk-free for cardiovascular health. Nicotine, oxidative stress, toxic additives, and impaired vascular function collectively pose tangible threats to heart health.
