Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Smoking E-Cigarettes Without Nicotine Can Destroy Blood Vessels

by Jeffil Obadiah on August 20, 2019 at 7:05 PM
Smoking E-Cigarettes Without Nicotine Can Destroy Blood Vessels

E-cigarettes, including nicotine-free ones, can be detrimental to the body's blood vessels. These may lead to irreversible damages to our lungs and the circulatory system.

Smoking e-cigarettes, also called vaping, has been marketed as a safe alternative to tobacco cigarettes and is rising in popularity among non-smoking adolescents. However, a single e-cigarette can be harmful to the body's blood vessels -- even when the vapor is entirely nicotine-free -- according to a new study by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results were published today in Radiology.

Advertisement

To study the short-term impacts of vaping, the researchers performed MRI exams on 31 healthy, non-smoking adults before and after vaping a nicotine-free e-cigarette. Comparing the pre- and post-MRI data, the single episode of vaping resulted in reduced blood flow and impaired endothelial function in the large (femoral) artery that supplies blood to the thigh and leg. The endothelium, which lines the inside surface of blood vessels, is essential to proper blood circulation. Once the endothelium is damaged, arteries thicken, and blood flow to the heart and the brain can be cut off, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

"While e-cigarette liquid may be relatively harmless, the vaporization process can transform the molecules -- primarily propylene glycol and glycerol -- into toxic substances," said the study's principal investigator Felix W. Wehrli, Ph.D., a professor of Radiologic Science and Biophysics. "Beyond the harmful effects of nicotine, we've shown that vaping has a sudden, immediate effect on the body's vascular function, and could potentially lead to long-term harmful consequences."
Advertisement

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that convert a liquid into an aerosol, which is inhaled into the user's lungs. Typically, the liquid contains addictive nicotine, as well as flavors. More than 10 million adults in the United States use e-cigarettes, and vaping has become especially popular among teenagers. While there appears to be some consensus that vaping may be less harmful to health than tobacco cigarette smoking, the dangers of e-cigarettes remain unclear.

In this study, the researchers examined the impact of an e-cigarette that contained propylene glycol and glycerol with tobacco flavoring, but no nicotine, which study participants took 16, three-second puffs from. To evaluate vascular reactivity, the group constricted the vessels of the thigh with a cuff and then measured how quickly the blood flowed after its release. Using a multi-parametric MRI procedure, researchers scanned the femoral artery and vein in the leg before and after each vaping episode to see how vascular function changed.

The researchers then performed a statistical analysis to determine group differences in vascular function before and after vaping. They observed, on average, a 34 percent reduction in the femoral artery's dilation. E-cigarettes exposure also led to a 17.5 percent reduction in peak blood flow, a 20 percent reduction in venous oxygen, and a 25.8 percent reduction in blood acceleration after the cuff release -- the speed at which the blood returned to the normal flow after being constricted. These findings suggest that vaping can cause significant changes to the inner lining of blood vessels, said study lead author Alessandra Caporale, Ph.D., a post-doctoral researcher in the Laboratory for Structural, Physiologic, and Functional Imaging at Penn.

"E-cigarettes are advertised as not harmful, and many e-cigarette users are convinced that they are just inhaling water vapor," Caporale said. "But the solvents, flavorings, and additives in the liquid base, after vaporization, expose users to multiple insults to the respiratory tract and blood vessels."

Wehrli noted that they observed these striking changes after the participants (all of whom never smoked previously) used an e-cigarette a single time. More research is needed to address the potential long-term adverse effects of vaping on vascular health, but he predicts that e-cigarettes are potentially much more hazardous than previously assumed. Earlier this year, for instance, his research group found that acute exposure to e-cigarettes causes vascular inflammation.

"I would warn young people not even to get started using e-cigarettes. The common belief is that the nicotine is what is toxic, but we have found that dangers exist, independent of nicotine," Wehrli said. "Clearly if there is an effect after a single use of an e-cigarette, then you can imagine what kind of permanent damage could be caused after vaping regularly over the years."

Source: Eurekalert

Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Alcohol & Drug Abuse News

Increasing E-Cigarette Advertising Alarming Youth
Even with advertising regulations in effect across all four nations, most young individuals still reported encountering e-cigarette promotions.
US Drug Overdose Deaths Quadruple from 1999 to 2020
The United States is currently witnessing its highest overall mortality rates in over a century, driven in part by the surge in drug overdose fatalities.
Genes Linked to Psychostimulant Drug Addiction Identified
Deciphering genetic factors in brain responses to METH and COC enables personalized approaches to combat drug abuse.
Insomnia Drug DORA-12 Shows Promise in Preventing Oxycodone Relapse
Giving rats DORA-12 during oxycodone withdrawal reduced future drug-seeking behavior, showing promise for preventing opioid addiction and relapse in humans.
France is All Set to Put a 'Full Stop' to Disposable Vapes
Rising to 9.6% in 2021, daily vaping among New Zealand's 14-year-old students underscores a concerning youth trend.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Smoking E-Cigarettes Without Nicotine Can Destroy Blood Vessels Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests