Doubled heart attack risk with daily use of e-cigarettes

Dangerous evaporators: E-cigarettes increase the risk of a heart attack

For many smokers, e-cigarettes are considered a healthier alternative to the classic tobacco cigarette. But the electric evaporators must not be downplayed. The daily consumption of electric cigarettes doubled, according to doctors, the heart attack risk.

Not harmless at all

The consumption of e-cigarettes has risen sharply in recent years. The question of whether the electric vaporizers seduce smoking or help with weaning, is not fully understood. Some users hope that the electric evaporators will facilitate smoking cessation. In fact, studies have shown that e-cigarettes can be helpful in stopping. On the other hand, however, it is repeatedly stated in scientific studies that they are not harmless. Among other things, they increase the risk of a heart attack.

According to health experts, daily consumption of e-cigarettes doubles the risk of heart attack. Doctors advise a complete smoking cessation. (Image: tibanna79 / fotolia.com)

Smoking makes you sick

It has long been recognized that many diseases can be a consequence of cigarette smoking, including in the cardiovascular area.

The annual World No Tobacco Day has this time focused on "tobacco use and heart disease".

According to experts, smoking and secondhand smoke are responsible for around 12% of deaths from heart disease worldwide.

The internist Manfred Neuberger of the Department of Environmental Hygiene of the Medical University (MedUni) Vienna also warns against e-cigarettes, whose daily consumption doubles the risk of a heart attack.

Health risks from e-cigarettes are underestimated

The health risks of e-cigarettes are still significantly underestimated: "We now know that cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes are also to be expected in the case of oxidative stress caused by e-cigarettes. This is compounded by the vascular effects that nicotine causes, "Neuberger explains in a statement.

E-cigarettes burn no tobacco, but evaporate a mostly nicotine-containing liquid. Main ingredient is often propylene glycol, which is responsible for the resulting steam. Also found in the evaporators flavors such as menthol, vanilla and the like.

According to Neuberger, recent American studies suggest that regular consumption causes similar disturbances to tobacco smoke.

There is a decrease in heart rate variability, stiffening and reduction of arterial expandability, increased blood coagulation and increased oxidation of lipoproteins, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease over time.

Doubling the risk of myocardial infarction

"The daily use of e-cigarettes doubles the risk of a heart attack, tobacco cigarettes triple the risk, and the alternate use of tobacco and e-cigarettes makes it five times more potent," said the expert.

Even nicotine-free e-cigarettes pose risks such as respiratory tract inflammation and epithelial damage in the mouth and lungs, presumably due to irritants and free radicals in the aerosol.

Neuberger sees problematic especially nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, which would facilitate the entry into the nicotine addiction and make the exit more difficult.

Dangerous tobacco heater

At least as dangerous are those recently available on the market tobacco heater, the so-called "heets". Here, real tobacco is heated, but not burned. It would create substances that can alter the genetic material and may be carcinogenic.

The addictive potential is comparable to that of cigarettes due to the amount of nicotine.

"Even people who stand next to 'Heet' smoking people are burdened by the so-called 'steam' with nicotine and heart and vascular effective particles and traces of cancer-promoting substances," Neuberger explains.

"Smokers and smokers can only be advised to stop smoking altogether so that their stiffened arteries regain their elasticity." (Ad)