US: LSU Researchers Say That Heated Tobacco Products Pose Threats to Health

Source from:  Vapingpost 12/31/2020

The review was recently published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. Study author Dr. Jason Gardner, Professor of Physiology at LSU’s School of Health, reported an association between HTP consumption and elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, cell death, and circulatory dysfunction.

Teens who vape tend to be risk-takers and are therefore also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use cannabis and other substances, as well have unprotected sex.Moreover, chemicals found in the exhaled vapour of the products have been previously linked to lung function impairment, putting users at risk of heart attack and stroke, cause cancers, increase circulating low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) and more.
Lead study author Nicholas Fried, an MD/PhD student in Dr. Gardner’s laboratory, sadly reiterated arguments that have already been scientifically disproved, saying that the products act as a “gateway” to smoking. “While relatively new to the U.S., heat-not-burn products have become popular in other countries including Japan, Italy, and Korea,” he said.

“These products are often touted as a replacement for cigarettes, but the evidence does not necessarily support that. Almost all Korean users of heat-not-burn products are also current cigarette smokers; nearly half of Italian users had never even smoked a cigarette. These trends worryingly suggest that heat-not-burn may be a compliment or gateway to cigarette smoking, rather than a ‘healthy’ replacement. More troubling, nearly 2% of high school students in the U.S. are already using HNB tobacco products, and surveys show that 25% of students are susceptible to trying them. There is potential for these devices to become a significant public health issue,” added Fried.

Gardner goes on to add that these products are particularly appealing to teens. “Heat-not-burn devices are marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes for existing smokers. However, as we have learned from vaping and e-cigarettes, these products are very likely to be used by minors and never-smokers due to marketing, flavor options, and lack of social stigma that is found with traditional cigarettes.”

“Use of these products can lead to nicotine addiction and additional clinical, basic science, and epidemiological studies are needed to better understand the health effects of HNB products. This knowledge will assist consumers, physicians, lawmakers, and regulatory bodies in making informed decisions about these products,” conclude the authors.