- E-cigarettes don’t have cancer-causing toxins, but still deliver nicotine
- Nicotine exposure hurts heart cells, new research shows
- Cellular degradation due to nicotine exposure may lead to atherosclerosis
(CNN) — The nicotine delivered by cigarettes — even the electronic versions — may still contribute to heart disease, a new study suggests.
A new paper delivered at the American Society of Cell Biology annual meeting in New Orleans on Sunday suggests that nicotine can cause direct harm to cells in the heart.
Nicotine is an highly addictive substance found in tobacco and is also found in vegetables in the nightshade family like eggplant and tomatoes.
The substance itself has a powerful impact on the body. It elevates your mood, suppresses your appetite and stimulates your memory; however, it also speeds up your heart rate and blood pressure.
E-cigarettes satisfy a smoker’s craving for nicotine and mimic the physical movements of smoking, but were viewed as a healthier alternative by some since they don’t contain the cancer-causing toxins of regular cigarettes.
Previous studies, such as one published in the journal The Lancet in September, have suggested e-cigarettes may be a more effective way for smokers to quit than nicotine patches or the “cold turkey” method.
In 2007, the Royal College of Physicians concluded, “If nicotine could be provided in a form that is acceptable and effective as a cigarette substitute, millions of lives could be saved.”
TIME.com: Smoke from e-cigs still poses some second-hand risk
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature death, according to the American Heart Association.
For years, doctors have also known that smokers often develop heart problems in addition to lung problems.
Smoking increases a person’s risk of developing atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque, a waxy substance, builds up in the arteries, narrowing and hardening them over time and limiting blood flow.
Atherosclerosis can cause heart attacks, strokes, and can even lead to death. The connection between smoking and atherosclerosis has been unclear, but scientist Chi Ming Hai may have discovered the root cause of the problem in the new study.
The molecular pharmacology professor at
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