A major study found that e-cigarettes cause the same “worrying” spikes in blood pressure and heart rate seen after smoking tobacco.
Experts said the nicotine found in vapes and cigarettes appears to activate the body’s sympathetic nervous system, linked to the fight or flight response.
This occurs when someone is stressed or in danger, causing an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as greater demand for oxygen by the heart, damaging artery walls.
The study, by the University of Wisconsin, involved almost 400 people, including 164 vapers and 117 smokers, who were monitored before vaping and smoking as well as 15 minutes afterwards.
Both vapers and smokers saw their heart rate increase by four beats per minute compared to non-users. Their blood pressure also went up, from approximately 122/72 mm Hg to approximately 127/77 mm Hg after using an e-cigarette, the same increase seen in traditional smokers.
Professor Matthew Tattersall, a lead author of the study, said: “Immediately after vaping or smoking, there were worrisome changes in blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability and blood vessel tone (constriction).
“These findings suggest worse cardiovascular disease risk factors right after vaping or smoking, and activation of the sympathetic nervous system may play a role in the adverse responses seen immediately after using e-cigarettes and after exercise testing 90 minutes later.”
E-cigarettes heat up a flavoured liquid, allowing people to inhale nicotine as a vapour rather than smoke. Because they do not burn tobacco to produce tar or carbon monoxide, they are recommended by the NHS as a safer alternative to tobacco.
The new study was presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association, alongside further research suggesting e-cigarettes may release toxic chemicals which can damage the cardiovascular system.
This involved 106 young adults aged 18-45 years, who had their urine tested shortly after smoking either a tobacco cigarette or an e-cigarette…
Levels of these tiny gas particles — called volatile organic compounds — were raised one hour after puffing on an e-cigarette, with similar results to those who used traditional cigarettes.
Dr Sana Majid, a lead author, from the Boston University School of Medicine, said: “Our findings demonstrate that pod-based e-cigarette use had long and short-term effects on the vascular system in healthy young adults, including in those who have only smoked e-cigarettes and have never smoked combustible cigarettes.
“These results indicate that e-cigarettes release chemicals that are toxic to blood vessels, and the use of pod-based e-cigarettes may be associated with harm.”
The findings will add to pressure on the government to introduce tighter restrictions on the vaping industry amid concern about high rates of children taking up the habit.
Nine per cent of 11 to 15 year olds in England say they frequently use e-cigarettes, up from six per cent three years ago.
Another report published on Monday found that eight in ten shopkeepers are in favour of more regulation and many are worried about sales to children.
The charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) commissioned a survey of 961 small tobacco retailers, including newsagents and petrol stations.
Eight out of 10 agree there should be a mandatory age verification for anyone who looks under 25 and tries to buy tobacco products.
Some 69 per cent support tighter controls in areas such as colours, cartoon characters and naming e-cigarettes after sweets — all of which appeal to children.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We are currently considering the wide range of independent recommendations as set out in the Khan Review (published in June), which includes further regulation. We will provide a further update in due course.”