Growing Evidence Links E-Cigarette Chemicals to Heart Health Risks, American Heart Association Warns

The American Heart Association is raising alarms about the cardiovascular dangers of e-cigarettes, citing a growing body of research that links chemicals in these products to heart health risks. In a statement released today, the organization emphasizes that e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless water vapor but contains a mix of chemicals, additives, and flavoring agents that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies as harmful or potentially harmful constituents.

A study published earlier this month in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology found that synthetic cooling chemicals used in some e-cigarettes may disrupt heart rhythm, pointing to potential risks such as irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. This adds to multiple lines of evidence showing that e-cigarette users are exposed to toxic substances like formaldehyde and heavy metals, which are linked to cardiovascular, respiratory, and cancer-related health risks.

Nicotine, present in nearly all e-cigarettes, is highly addictive and can damage the heart and other vital organs. It raises blood pressure and heart rate, narrows blood vessels, and forces the heart to work harder. Over time, these effects can lead to heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, according to the American Heart Association. Nicotine also increases blood clotting and contributes to peripheral artery disease.

Research suggests that inhaling e-cigarette aerosol may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, damage to blood vessel function, and atherosclerosis—a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. These conditions can lead to the development of heart disease.

Claims that e-cigarettes improve focus or memory are not supported by evidence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nicotine exposure, especially among young people, can harm brain development and is associated with changes in attention, learning, and impulse control. Most youth who use e-cigarettes report using flavored products, which appeal to young people and increase the likelihood of continued use.

The American Heart Association supports public policies to prohibit the sale of all flavored commercial tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol, and to support quitting, prevent initiation, and strengthen research. The organization also supports access to FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies and counseling to help people quit.

“The tobacco industry relentlessly targets kids and communities with fruit-, candy- and menthol-flavored tobacco products that encourage use, facilitate addiction and increase profits,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “After decades of selling products that cause disease and death, tobacco and nicotine companies cannot be trusted to protect public health. No tobacco or nicotine product can be considered safe.”

As policymakers evaluate the rapidly evolving market of tobacco and nicotine products, the American Heart Association urges everyone to be aware of the scientific evidence pointing to potential cardiovascular harms from e-cigarettes.