E-Cigarettes Can Lead To A Stroke

Were you aware of the fact that, while generally considered to be a safe alternative to smoking, e-cigarettes may pose serious and potentially even deadly threats to our health? In fact, recent studies seem to point to the possibility that e-cigarettes and vape products may be just as harmful to our health as traditional cigarettes.

In light of this, it is important for us to recognize the dangers posed by this relatively new vice, and make decisions regarding our health and the risks we expose ourselves to by first reading all available information about the topic.

In this article, we will focus on how e-cigarettes can lead to a stroke, and other such debilitating negative effects on our health.

Dangerous Chemicals In E-Cigarettes

We will first go over ten toxic or otherwise harmful substances commonly found in e-cigarettes, so that we have a deeper understanding of the chemicals that we expose ourselves to when engaging in the practice of e-cigarette usage or vaping.

First, we have nicotine. Nicotine is a known stimulant with vasoconstrictor properties, meaning that it causes narrowing of the blood vessels (arteries and veins), alongside an increased heart rate and increased blood pressure levels. Nicotine is also highly addictive, further amplifying its dangers.

Secondly, we have formaldehyde. Formaldehyde appears in the aerosol emitted by e-cigarettes when heat is applied to the propylene glycol and glycerin present in most e-liquids. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and highly toxic to living organisms, and can lead to a plethora of health issues. It is commonly used in the embalming of corpses by funeral homes and trophy hunters alike.

Acetaldehyde is yet another byproduct of heating glycerin and propylene glycol in the process of e-cigarette usage. This byproduct is, just like formaldehyde, also carcinogenic and highly toxic.

The fourth harmful chemical commonly found in e-cigarettes we’ll talk about is acrolein, yet another byproduct of glycerin being heated. It can cause damage to the lungs and other areas of the body.

Fifth, diacetyl is yet another toxic chemical present in vapes and e-cigs. It has been linked to a serious lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans (yes, it’s as bad as it sounds), or as “popcorn lung”.

Next up, benzene, a volatile organic compound, is also often present in e-cigarette aerosols. It can lead to serious illnesses, including but not limited to leukemia.

Toluene, the seventh harmful chemical on our list, can lead to birth defects if it is consumed during pregnancies, particularly birth defects in the neurological area.

Heavy metals, such as chromium, nickel, lead and cadmium, among others, can lead to a multitude of health problems, including brain damage.

Volatile organic compounds are also commonly found in e-cigarette and vape products, and they have been linked to cancers in some studies, among other negative health effects when inhaled or ingested.

Finally, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are chemical compounds which may sometimes form when heat is applied to the chemicals present in e-liquids, and can result in respiratory and other health issues, in addition to being carcinogenic.

Now, let’s look at how e-cigarettes can lead to a stroke.

E-Cigarettes Can Lead To A Stroke

First and foremost, the leading contributing factor behind e-cigarettes potentially causing strokes is nicotine, due to its vasoconstrictor and cardiovascular stimulating properties.

Nicotine, by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure, in addition to narrowing the blood vessels and increasing the risk of blood clots, can lead to a stroke by blocking the flow of blood to or from the brain.

Certain chemicals present in vape and e-cigarette products may lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is damage to blood vessels, which may result in an increased risk of developing blood clots, as well as leading to inflammation of the cardiovascular system, further slowing and/or blocking the blood flow to and from the brain, which in turn drastically increases the risk of suffering a stroke in e-cigarette users.

Nicotine also increases platelet production, further increasing the risk of blood clots developing within blood vessels. If these blood clots occur in blood vessels in or near the brain, a stroke becomes a very real and dangerous possibility.

Nicotine, as well as other chemicals in e-cigarettes and vapes, can also lead to heart arrhythmia, a dangerous condition which may cause blood to pool in the heart and cause blood clots which can then travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

Another factor to be aware of is direct toxicity, particularly in the case of chemicals such as formaldehyde and acrolein, for example. This direct toxicity can negatively affect blood cells and tissue, as well as the brain, further increasing the risk of stroke.

Certain e-cigarettes and vapes produce carbon monoxide, which makes it more difficult for blood cells to transport oxygen to the brain. This decreased oxygen supply to the brain can then lead to an ischemic stroke as a consequence.

Vaping may also have a negative effect on cholesterol balance in the body, lowering good cholesterol levels and increasing bad cholesterol levels, which may lead to atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque (or fatty deposits) builds up on the walls of blood vessels (veins and arteries), which make it harder for the blood to flow freely to the brain, and can result in the suffering of a stroke.

Inflammatory responses caused by either an allergy to nicotine, or another chemical present in the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes or vapes, can cause swelling in the blood vessels, effectively narrowing them and leading, yet again, to decreased blood flow to the brain and an increased risk of stroke, along with other potential brain-damaging conditions.

Conclusion

E-cigarettes are far from safe, regardless of whether or not they contain nicotine in their respective e-liquids. Even without nicotine, many chemicals present in the e-liquids may ultimately lead to an untimely death, either from stroke, or from another cause.

I encourage you to quit using e-cigarettes if you have not done so yet, because our health is far more important and irreplaceable than a vice.

Thank you for reading, and until next time, I wish you the best.