Health Alert: Nicotine Salts in E-Cigarettes, a Little-Known Cardiac Risk!

At the start of the year, many smokers and vapers consider quitting or reducing their consumption to improve their health. The electronic cigarette is often considered an aid to smoking cessation. However, it is crucial to understand its potential side effects.

University of Louisville study

The study led by the University of Louisville, published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, examines the effects of nicotine in e-cigarettes. It suggests that nicotine from e-cigarettes is not always harmless, particularly pods containing more nicotine which are likely to cause heart rhythm irregularities.

Experimentation and Results

Researchers tested the effects of different types and doses of nicotine in animal models. They compared heart rate and heart rate variability in mice exposed to vape aerosols containing different types of nicotine. The results show that:

Some types of nicotine in e-cigarettes may be more harmful than others.
Nicotine salts, used in pod electronic cigarettes like “Juul,” are more likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias, especially at high doses.
Higher levels of nicotine salts increase sympathetic nervous system activity, which can stimulate the receptor targeted by beta blockers, heart medications.

implications

This discovery has important regulatory implications. It suggests that nicotine from e-cigarettes may cause irregular heartbeats in a dose-dependent manner. Pending regulatory changes, users could reduce risks by switching to e-cigarettes containing freebase nicotine rather than nicotine salts, or by choosing products with lower nicotine content.

Images and Sources

To illustrate this article, we could include images of different e-cigarettes, especially those using nicotine salts and beta blockers. These images could be accompanied by graphs showing the effects of different levels of nicotine on heart rate.