If you use an e-cigarette, you may want to stop quickly

You shouldn't stay smoking e-cigarettes for long either...

It has been found that e-cigarettes could increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes according to new research in Sweden. The vaping device which often people use as a stepping stone to giving up smoking has been found to contain the stimulant that causes arteries to stiffen as well as increased heart rate and blood pressure. Researchers in Stockholm in Sweden asked 15 fit and healthy volunteers to take part in their experiments but one essential requirement was that none of them had smoked an e-cigarette before. After 3o minutes of smoking the vaping device which contained nicotine, scientists found a significant increase in blood pressure, heart rate and aterial stiffness. In the control group, there were participants who were smoking e-cigarettes with no nicotine and it had caused no effect to their body after a half an hour. Dr Magnus Lundback, of the Danderyd University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, is one of the main researchers and said: ‘The number of e-cigarette users has increased dramatically in the last few years. E-cigarettes are regarded by the general public as almost harmless.

"The e-cigarette industry markets their product as a way to reduce harm and to help people to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, the safety of e-cigarettes is debated, and a growing body of evidence is suggesting several adverse health effects. "The results are preliminary, but in this study we found there was a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure in the volunteers who were exposed to e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Arterial stiffness increased around three-fold in those who were exposed to nicotine containing e-cigarettes compared to the nicotine-free group."

The effects in the tests were only temporary but Lundback stated that over exposure to e-cigarettes with nicotine could cause permanent effects on arterial stiffness in the long term. In short, it really shouldn't be a permanent solution after giving up smoking.