E-cigarettes increase heart rate and blood pressure more than smoking cigarettes

Blood pressure and heart rate also increase with e-cigarette usage

With the growing popularity of e-cigarettes, the discussions about possible health advantages and disadvantages of the electric evaporator intensified. Advocates of e-cigarettes often cite the allegedly lower health burden compared to smoking conventional cigarettes as an argument. However, in a recent study, scientists from the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein found that the systolic blood pressure and heart rate in e-cigarettes using nicotine-containing liquids even more increase than in normal smoking.

"The introduction of electronic cigarettes has led to a broad discussion about the cardiovascular risks compared to conventional smoking," the study authors emphasize. In a randomized cross-over study, they compared the effects of e-cigarette use with those of classic tobacco use. They conclude that regular consumption of e-cigarettes in the long run could affect the cardiovascular system in a similar way as conventional smoking. The results of the study were published in the journal "Vascular Medicine".

According to a recent study, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes could be as harmful to the cardiovascular system as conventional cigarettes. (Image: Jamrooferpix / fotolia.com)

Comparison between e-cigarette and tobacco consumption

For the current study, the research team led by Klaas Franzen from the Lübeck campus of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein has divided and analyzed 15 active smokers into three groups. One group smoked a conventional cigarette, another group smoked an electronic cigarette with nicotine (eGo-T CE4 vaporizer) and another an e-cigarette without nicotine. Subjects did not know the nicotine content of the electronic cigarette, and all participants measured peripheral and central blood pressures and arterial stiffness parameters with a Mobil-O-Graph® device two hours after smoking or vaporizing, the researchers report.

Increasing peripheral systolic blood pressure

The evaluation showed that the "peripheral systolic blood pressure after inhaling a nicotine-containing fluid (p <0,05) und nach dem Rauchen einer konventionellen Zigarette (p <0,01) etwa 45 Minuten lang signifikant erhöht war“, berichten die Wissenschaftler. Damit fiel die Veränderung bei den E-Zigaretten-Nutzern noch größer aus als bei den Tabakkonsumenten. Bei der nikotinfreien Flüssigkeiten zeigten sich laut Aussage der Forscher keine signifikanten Veränderungen.

The heart rate is also increased

"Likewise, the heart rate increased about 45 minutes after vaporizing an electronic cigarette containing nicotine-containing fluid and over the first 30 minutes after smoking a cigarette versus the control group," the authors said. Their conclusion is accordingly sobering for e-cigarette users who evaporate nicotine-containing liquids.

Cardiovascular risk comparable to cigarettes?

Changes in peripheral and central blood pressure as well as pulse rate were observed in the first experiment of this type - both in the smoking of conventional cigarettes and in the evaporation of nicotine-containing liquids in the electronic cigarette, the scientists emphasize. "These findings may be associated with increased long-term cardiovascular risk," the researchers added. (Fp)