New Expert Report: Vapes, Pouches and E-Cigarettes Harm Heart Just Like Cigarettes
Expert report concludes all nicotine products, including vapes and pouches, are toxic to heart and blood vessels.
A landmark report published in the European Heart Journal by top global cardiovascular scientists warns that newer nicotine products—including vapes, heated tobacco sticks, nicotine pouches, cigars, and sheeshas—are no safer for the heart than traditional cigarettes. The comprehensive review synthesizes decades of research, concluding that the delivery method may change, but the harmful biological effects of nicotine remain the same.
The report emphasizes that nicotine constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure, accelerates atherosclerosis, and promotes inflammation, regardless of whether it is inhaled, chewed, or absorbed orally. Even passive exposure to smoke, vapour, or emissions causes measurable vascular damage, meaning that second-hand exposure is also a serious cardiovascular risk.
Experts highlighted a worrying trend among adolescents and young adults. Nearly 75% of young adult vapers have never smoked cigarettes before, indicating that newer nicotine products are creating fresh entry points into addiction rather than helping people quit. The dual use of traditional and modern products, the report notes, actually increases cardiovascular risk rather than reducing it.
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Flavored products, often marketed as safer or more appealing, were singled out as particularly dangerous. Sweet, minty, or fruity flavors mask nicotine’s harshness, accelerating dependence and making it easier for younger users to become addicted. Researchers stress that flavors should not distract from the fact that the underlying toxin continues to damage the heart and blood vessels.
The report calls for urgent, unified action to reduce nicotine-related harm. Recommendations include banning flavors, implementing taxation proportional to nicotine content, enforcing plain packaging for all products, introducing strict indoor and outdoor smoke- and aerosol-free laws, controlling online sales and social media advertising, and integrating nicotine prevention into cardiovascular care.
The authors caution that the absence of long-term data on newer products should not be interpreted as evidence of safety. With healthcare costs, lost productivity, and cardiovascular events already running into hundreds of billions of euros annually, the report warns that decisive measures are needed now to protect public health.
