The American Heart Association (AHA) recently held its 2019 Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia PA. The sessions covered many topics, but one of the most impactful was a session on e-cigarettes and their adverse health effects. The data revealed that these smoking “alternatives” aren’t safer than traditional cigarettes as they “take [a] serious toll on heart health.”
The researchers who presented their data found that “e-cigarette smoking negatively impacts heart disease risk factors—”cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels, and decreases blood flow in the heart”—similar to results among people who smoked traditional cigarettes.”
Based on these data, the AHA recommends that people not only stop smoking, but stop smoking e-cigarettes, especially when they’re being used as a cessation method.
These findings and new guidelines from the AHA may help nurses and other healthcare providers when educating their patients on the risks of smoking and how to safely stop.
Please read more about the study here.
