The American Heart Association is drawing attention to mounting scientific evidence that e-cigarettes pose significant cardiovascular risks, challenging the misconception that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking. In a recent statement, the organization highlighted multiple studies linking chemicals found in e-cigarette aerosol to potential heart and blood vessel damage.
Research published earlier this month in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology found that synthetic cooling chemicals used in some e-cigarettes may disrupt heart rhythm, increasing risks of irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. This adds to a growing body of evidence that e-cigarette users are exposed to toxic substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals, which are associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and cancer-related health issues.
“We’ve long known about the health threats of cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products, but as increasing numbers of e-cigarettes and other newer nicotine products are introduced into the market, we are learning more about the health threats of these products,” said Jason J. Rose, M.D., M.B.A., American Heart Association volunteer and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Rose chaired the association’s 2023 scientific statement on e-cigarettes.
Nicotine, a key ingredient in nearly all e-cigarettes, is highly addictive and can damage the heart and other organs. It raises blood pressure and heart rate, narrows blood vessels, and forces the heart to work harder, potentially leading to heart attack, stroke, or heart failure over time. One e-cigarette can contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, increasing addiction risks.
Claims that nicotine improves cognitive function are not supported by evidence, according to the association. While nicotine may produce short-term changes in attention, these effects are often relief from withdrawal symptoms rather than true improvement. In young people, nicotine exposure can harm brain development and affect attention, learning, and impulse control, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Youth use remains a major concern. Most young e-cigarette users report using flavored products, which appeal to them and increase the likelihood of continued use. The American Heart Association supports policies to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol, and to increase access to evidence-based cessation tools.
“The tobacco industry relentlessly targets kids and communities with fruit-, candy- and menthol-flavored tobacco products that encourage use, facilitate addiction and increase profits,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “After decades of selling products that cause disease and death, tobacco and nicotine companies cannot be trusted to protect public health.”
For more information on the health impacts of e-cigarettes, visit the American Heart Association website and the FDA.
