Impact on Heart, Brain, and Beyond: Examining the Effects of E-Cigarettes on Cardiovascular Health and Brain Function
In recent months, a concerning trend has emerged as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reports over 2,600 cases and 42 deaths related to lung damage from vaping as of November 13, 2019. This surge in illnesses has sparked a wave of research into the potential health risks associated with e-cigarettes.
One area of particular concern is the cardiac effects of e-cigarettes. Dr. Mangala Narasimhan, regional director of critical care medicine at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York, has expressed her concerns about the potential cardiac complications. Narasimhan has treated 40 vaping patients, many of whom were otherwise healthy and not heavy vapers.
Researchers have observed disruptions to the endothelium, the inner lining of the arteries, in both mice exposed to e-cigarette vapor and in some human patients. The endothelium plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure and releasing chemicals that prevent cells and clotting proteins from sticking to the inner lining of blood vessels. Dysfunction of the endothelium is linked to heart disease, stroke, vascular disease, and many other conditions.
A study by researchers from the University Medical Centre Mainz in Germany found that a single vaping episode caused changes in the cardiovascular health of 20 healthy cigarette smokers. In another study, researchers from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that e-cigarette use decreased blood flow to the heart, both at rest and during physical stress.
Researchers led by Amit Moses from the Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel recently discovered that the hearts of e-cigarette smokers showed changes. However, the results of these studies haven't been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal, so they should be viewed with caution.
The CDC has identified vitamin E acetate as a potential toxin of concern in vaping products. Despite the mounting evidence, the long-term heart effects of vaping are still unknown. This uncertainty is particularly concerning, as many who have fallen ill reported using vape liquids containing THC, but some used only nicotine-containing products.
The long-term health implications of e-cigarettes are a pressing concern, with cases like a Michigan teen who recently received a double lung transplant due to lung damage from vaping serving as a stark reminder of the potential dangers. In the U.K., a teen developed a potentially life-threatening lung inflammation known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis from vaping.
As the research continues, it is crucial to approach the findings with a critical eye and to emphasise the need for more long-term studies to confirm the cardiac effects of e-cigarettes. Until then, the public should exercise caution when using e-cigarettes, and healthcare providers should be vigilant in monitoring the cardiac health of their patients who vape.
