E-cigarettes containing nicotine found to up heart attack risk

A study has revealed that vaping devices containing the stimulant could cause a stiffening of the arteries, as also increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Scientists in Stockholm, Sweden, recruited 15 healthy volunteers for the experiment, none of whom had used e-cigarettes before.

The researchers noted a significant increase in in blood pressure, heart rate and arterial stiffness, 30 minutes after smoking the e-cigarettes containing nicotine, while volunteers who smoked the e-cigarettes without nicotine had no such effect.

Dr Magnus Lundback, of the Danderyd University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, said, "The number of e-cigarette users has increased dramatically in the last few years. E-cigarettes are regarded by the general public as almost harmless, Press Association reported.

"The e-cigarette industry markets their product as a way to reduce harm and to help people to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, the safety of e-cigarettes is debated, and a growing body of evidence is suggesting several adverse health effects.

''The results are preliminary, but in this study we found there was a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure in the volunteers who were exposed to e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Arterial stiffness increased around three-fold in those who were exposed to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes compared with the nicotine-free group.''

While the effects seen in the tests were temporary, Lundback said that chronic exposure to e-cigarettes with nicotine could have permanent effects.