Electronic cigarettes increase blood pressure and heart rate more than smoking

Blood pressure and heart rate also increase with the use of the electronic cigarette

With the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes, discussions about the possible health benefits and disadvantages of electric vaporizers can be found in the electronic cigarette. ; intensifying. Advocates of electronic cigarettes often invoke the allegedly lower health burden compared to smoking as an argument. However, in a recent study, scientists at the Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital found that the systolic blood pressure and heart rate of e-cigarettes using nicotine-containing fluids increased even more than in normal smoking.

. led to a broad discussion on cardiovascular risks compared to conventional smoking, "stress the authors of the study. In a randomized crossover study, they compared the effects of using the electronic cigarette with those of conventional smoking. They conclude that regular consumption of long-term electronic cigarettes could affect the cardiovascular system in the same way as conventional smoking. The results of the study were published in the journal "Vascular Medicine".

Comparison between e-cigarette and tobacco consumption

For the current study, the research team led by Klaas Franzen of the campus University of Schleswig-Holstein Lübeck divided 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 group a non-nicotine e-cigarette. Subjects were unaware of the nicotine content of the e-cigarette, and all participants measured peripheral and central blood pressure values ​​and arterial stiffness parameters with a Mobil-O-Graph® device two hours after smoking or spraying.

. ] Increased peripheral systolic blood pressure

During evaluation, it was shown that "peripheral systolic blood pressure after inhalation of a nicotine-containing fluid (p also the heart rate is increased ").

"Similarly, the heart rate increased about 45 minutes after the vaporization of an electronic cigarette containing a nicotine-containing liquid and for the first 30 minutes after smoking a cigarette with respect to control group, "according to the authors. Their conclusion is therefore disappointing for e-cigarette users who evaporate liquids containing nicotine.

Cardiovascular risk comparable to cigarettes

In the first experiment of this type, changes in peripheral and central arterial pressure as well as pulse rate were observed Smoking conventional cigarettes, as well as evaporation from A liquid containing nicotine in the electronic cigarette, stress the scientists. "These findings may be badociated with increased long-term cardiovascular risk," the researchers added. (Fp)