There is a lot of debate about the effects of vaping on health. Whether e-cigarettes or vape pens are depositing other chemicals in the lungs or not we can all agree that nicotine is a key ingredient. So, all other potential chemicals aside, if vape pens truly are just water vapor and nicotine, then we can not ignore the health risks associated from nicotine. So, here is what we know about the effects of nicotine, and the risks an individual takes every time they vape.
Lungs There is a lot of talk in the news about the hospitalizations, of people who vape, for respiratory disease. So, let’s talk about what we know about the effects of nicotine on the lungs. First, nicotine causes inflammation of the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place) in the lungs and destroys elastin (protein found in elastic tissue). The result of this is a set of lungs with less room for air, combined with a reduced ability to expand when you breath. Second, nicotine promotes bronchoconstriction which results in less air you breath in being able to reach the lungs. So, to put this in simple terms nicotine reduces the amount of air you can that can even reach the lungs when you breathe as well as reduces the amount of air the lungs can hold. Heart Nicotine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. As many people know high blood pressure is related to many health problems, but let’s take a look at what nicotine does to the heart and the coronary arteries. With the heart beating faster, it means the cardiac muscle tissue is working harder, and just like every muscle, oxygen is needed. In response to the increased oxygen need the coronary arteries usually dilate to increase blood flow, but this is unable to be achieved due to the vasoconstriction effects of nicotine. This means frequent exposure to nicotine can cause ischemic damage (damage resulting from a lack of oxygen) to the heart muscle. Also, nicotine has been shown to increase the development of atherosclerosis (build up of plaque in the arteries). This causes reduced blood flow in the heart and increased risk of heart attack. Cancer While there is still debate on if nicotine itself is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent), there is strong evidence to suggest that nicotine promotes cancer growth. To break down what I mean by this I will give you some background information on cancer. Cells in our bodies are constantly replicating and replacing other cells everyday. It is estimated that there is a cell turnover of about 50 billion cells in a day. With that much replication there are “cancerous” cells produced often. The production of cancerous cells is assisted by carcinogenic substances such as tobacco, alcohol, UV rays, car exhaust, and even some foods. The reason not every mutation develops into cancer is our body works hard to kill that cell or limit the growth. Nicotine can counteract these natural protections in place and promote the growth of tumors by: 1. increasing the proliferation (reproduction) of the cancerous cells 2. increasing angiogenesis (the production of new blood vessels) which provides tumors with oxygens and nutrients to sustain 3. avoiding apoptosis (programmed death of unhealthy cells in the body) which allows tumors to grow uncontrollably Overall, there is some evidence to suggest that nicotine can increase the occurrence of cancerous mutations, but even if it does not directly cause cancer it is a strong promoter of cancerous cell growth that could be caused by carcinogens we are exposed to everyday. Diabetes Nicotine can have harmful effects on insulin production and glucose metabolism whether an individual has diabetes or not. It can promote insulin resistance and damage pancreatic beta cells (The cells responsible for producing insulin). As well as increasing the rate of glycogenesis (the formation of glycogen from glucose), which can cause blood sugar levels to drop. Immune System Nicotine can suppress the immune system which can lead to a decreased ability to fight off infection as well as an increased wound healing time. Reproductive system Nicotine can inhibit nitric oxide formation which is important to allow blood vessels in the penis to dilate and increase blood flow to produce an erection in men. Nicotine can also cause irregular menstrual cycles in women by decreasing estrogen and progesterone levels. Nicotine is especially harmful to a fetus and can result in growth restriction, stillbirth, and miscarriage. Kidneys Nicotine can advance renal disease by decreasing glomerular filtration rate (a test of how much blood passes through the kidneys) and causing renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the artery). Nicotine has been shown to increase mortality rate in those with end stage renal disease and may even contribute to the development of renal disease in the first place. If you vape, it is important to discuss the risks with your healthcare provider. Here are also some resources for more information on the consequences of vaping and nicotine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363846/ https://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/tobacco/2017/11/dangers-nicotine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553893/ https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/prevention-and-healthy-living/stopping-tobacco-use-after-cancer-diagnosis/health-risks-e-cigarettes-smokeless-tobacco-and-waterpipes https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking-tobacco/how-smoking-and-nicotine-damage-your-body https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/nicotine.html
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