According to a recent study by Stanford University’s Cardiovascular Institute, cigarette smoking not only is a cause of a lung cancer, but it is also a cause of heart attacks. More specifically, the chemicals found in the inhaled vapor potentially cause unprecedented risks that are vital to address.

Photo: Антон Воробьев on Unsplash

Dr. Joseph Wu, director of the institute, grew cells in laboratory dishes. While these cells are in a healthy state, they line human blood vessels. These experimental cells were exposed to six different e-cigarette flavorings. This would ultimately test if nicotine was not the only factor in posing health risks when smoking.

According to NBC , “Vaping and some flavorings, even without nicotine, triggered blood vessel dysfunction that can increase the risk of heart disease, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define e-cigarettes as “electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air." The CDC states that the use of e-cigarettes is “unsafe" for kids, teens, and young adults. The organization goes even further on their site to say that e-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine . Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development, continuing into early to mid-20s.

The study itself is intended to educate those who may be struggling with addiction. Additional assistance is sometimes required and available. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free support.

Research:

http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2019/05/e-cigarette-use-and-flavorings-may-increase-heart-disease-risk.htm

https://www.apnews.com/8bf7e4cfd83f4f02ad1b6a02eac41ef1

https://nbcmontana.com/news/nation-world/study-suggests-e-cigarette-flavorings-may-pose-heart-risk

http://www.onlinejacc.org

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

https://smokefree.gov