Written by Dr M Sudhakar Rao
An engineering student, all of 21, was rushed to the emergency with a massive heart attack. He seemed fit, had no family history, no diabetes, no risk factors or underlying conditions. Yet when we saw his angiogram, there was a 100 per cent blockage in the right coronary artery, one of the two main arteries that supply blood to the heart. We had to put in a stent, a mesh device to keep the artery widened, and restored blood flow. He didn’t smoke cigarettes but vaped.
The young man’s lungs were also partially scarred as he had been vaping since age 16. Just before the heart attack, he felt like he was breathing through a straw. And even now, despite cardio rehabilitation exercise, he is yet to get back to normal breathing patterns. I have seen at least two or three cases of vaping triggering heart disease in the young. Although marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, vaping poses just as much risk to heart health.
Why vaping is risky
Most vapes contain nicotine like cigarettes. The only difference is that there is tobacco combustion in cigarettes and in vapes there is a nicotine-based liquid, the aerosols of which reach the brain. As you inhale, nicotine goes to the brain’s reward circuit in seconds. The brain then gets addicted to nicotine. And continued vaping impacts the cardiovascular system. Other chemicals found in vaping liquids, such as solvents, flavoring agents and even heavy metals, can trigger inflammation, which can further damage the heart and blood vessels.
How does vaping impact the heart?
It increases heart rate and blood pressure because nicotine triggers the release of adrenaline and activates the body’s sympathetic nervous system, commonly known as the “fight or flight” response. This puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, making them work harder than normal. This sustained heart stress can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, when the normal electrical impulses of the heart are impaired and shut down.
High blood pressure damages blood vessels, causing them to tear and dislodge plaques. The plaque rupture causes blood clotting and blockage, triggering a heart attack. Research has shown that chemicals used in vapes can impair the production of nitric oxide in the cells lining blood vessels. Nitric oxide is crucial for relaxing blood vessels and ensuring smooth blood flow. When its production is reduced, blood vessels become stiffer, which can lead to poor circulation and increase the risk of blockages.
Even among people who have never smoked cigarettes, regular vaping has been associated with a greater likelihood of developing heart failure, when the heart becomes too weak or stiff to pump blood effectively. Sometimes, vaping can trigger atrial fibrillation, a common type of heart rhythm abnormality where the heart’s upper chambers (atria) beat irregularly and rapidly. This can lead to blood pooling and clotting in the heart, palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath and an increased risk of stroke.
Story continues below this ad
How do you know that vaping is stressing your heart out?
People who vape score very low on exercise stress tests that are used to predict heart disease risk. That’s because vaping impairs the heart’s ability to respond to physical stress.
So next time you vape, remember you are damaging your heart and lungs that much early.
(Dr Rao is consultant cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru)
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
