A new scientific statement released by the American Heart Association highlights the health risks of e-cigarette use, including potential heart and lung issues, and emphasizes the need for more extensive research on long-term impacts. The statement also discusses the alarming increase in e-cigarette use, particularly among youth, and the lack of substantial evidence supporting their use as a smoking cessation tool.
Vaping products, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated systems that heat a liquid solution, or e-liquid, to create an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs. Most e-liquid formulations deliver nicotine, which has been established as having negative health effects as well as strong addictive properties. The products may also contain other substances, most commonly tetrahydrocannabinol , the psychoactive element of cannabis, as well as methamphetamine, methadone, or vitamins.
Studies gauging the specific impact e-cigarettes have on heart attacks and strokes are limited. Much research on e-cigarette use has been conducted on people who have also used or are currently using traditional cigarettes. Additionally, large survey studies have focused on younger adults who have a low occurrence of heart attacks and strokes.
Given the established, high health risks of smoking combustible cigarettes, e-cigarette products have been evaluated as smoking cessation tools. The writing committee examined the limited research in this area and concluded that any benefits e-cigarettes may offer to help people stop smoking or stop using tobacco products need to be clearly balanced alongside the products’ known and unknown potential health risks, including the known risk of long-term dependence on these products.
The scientific statement writing committee emphasizes a critical need for additional knowledge and research, specifically: More in-depth research is needed about the common chemical ingredients in e-cigarettes and the effects they independently have on pulmonary and cardiac health.