Vaping may damage the heart and blood vessels, not just the lungs, latest study of e-cigarette risks finds
- Study authors suggest several ways using e-cigarettes can harm the cardiovascular system. Their warning follows news of outbreak of lung injuries tied to vaping
- E-cigarette use has risen sharply in Europe and the United States, where it has been linked to dozens of deaths
Vaping devices and the chemicals they deliver – increasingly popular among teens – may damage the cardiovascular system, according to a study, adding to a growing chorus of concern over injury and deaths related to e-cigarettes.
“E-cigarettes contain nicotine, particulate matter, metal and flavourings, not just harmless water vapour,” senior author Loren Wold of Ohio State University wrote in the study. “Air pollution studies show that fine particles enter the circulation and have direct effects on the heart.”
Nicotine, also found in tobacco, is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate. Other ingredients inhaled through vaping may lead to inflammation, oxidative stress and unstable blood flow, Wold said. Ultrafine particulates, for example, have been linked to blood clots, heart disease and high blood pressure, among other conditions.
E-cigarettes also contain formaldehyde, which has been classified as a cancer-causing agent and is associated with heart damage in experiments with rats. Almost nothing is known about the potential health hazards of flavouring agents that mimic the taste of mint, confectionery or fruits such as mango or cherry, the study noted.
“While most are deemed safe when ingested orally, little is known of their systemic effects following inhalation,” the researchers wrote.