HEALTH FOCUS
Heart Disease: Talking Points Start a conversation with your physician customers by sharing news from the most recent American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions Conferences
E-cigarettes match traditional smoking in some heart risks
even more than traditional cigarettes. The preliminary findings were presented at
blood flow in 19 smokers, ages 24 to 32,
E-cigarettes may be perceived as safer
the American Heart Association's most
immediately before and after using either
than traditional cigarettes, but two studies
recent Scientific Sessions meeting, held in
e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes. Blood
say they are just as dangerous, or even
November 2019 in Philadelphia.
flow was measured while participants
worse, for your heart. One study found
14
In the first study, which included 476
The second study analyzed heart
were at rest and again as they performed a
vaping can worsen several heart disease
healthy adults, e-cigarette users had higher
risk factors – cholesterol, triglycerides and
“bad” LDL cholesterol and lower overall
glucose levels – at levels equal to tradi-
cholesterol compared to nonsmokers.
director of public health research at
tional cigarettes. A second study found e-
In people who both vaped and smoked,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said the
cigarettes decrease blood flow in the heart
“good” HDL cholesterol was lower.
finding that heart blood flow was reduced
handgrip exercise. Study co-author Dr. Susan Cheng,
March 2020 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
