Is Salt Nicotine Bad for Your Heart? Here’s what you need to know as well an overview of new data from the British Heart Foundation…
Table of Contents
In the realm of vaping, nicotine salts, often referred to as salt nicotine or salt nic, have gained significant popularity. They offer a smoother hit and faster nicotine absorption compared to traditional freebase nicotine.
However, as with any substance that affects your body’s internal workings, it’s crucial to understand the potential health implications, particularly concerning heart health. This article will delve into the question: Is salt nicotine bad for your heart?
Understanding Salt Nicotine
Nicotine salts are a form of nicotine used in e-liquids for vaping devices. They are created by combining freebase nicotine with an acid, which lowers the pH level of the nicotine and makes it less harsh to inhale.
This allows for higher concentrations of nicotine to be vaped without an overly harsh throat hit. Additionally, nicotine salts are absorbed into the bloodstream faster than freebase nicotine, providing a quicker nicotine hit.
The Impact of Nicotine on Heart Health
Whether in the form of salt nicotine or freebase nicotine, nicotine is a stimulant that has several effects on the body, including the cardiovascular system.
[snippet]
Here’s how it works:
Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
When nicotine enters your body, it stimulates the adrenal glands, which respond by releasing adrenaline. This surge of adrenaline increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, these repeated spikes can strain your heart and potentially lead to heart disease.
Constriction of Blood Vessels
Nicotine also causes your blood vessels to constrict, reducing the amount of blood that can flow through them. This means your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can contribute to high blood pressure and potentially lead to heart disease.
Disruption of Heart Rhythm
Some research suggests that nicotine can disrupt the normal rhythm of your heart, potentially leading to conditions like arrhythmia. However, more research is needed to fully understand this potential effect.
[/snippet]
Nicotine, while highly addictive, is not a significant health hazard for people without heart conditions. It does not cause acute cardiac events or coronary heart disease, and is not carcinogenic. But nicotine is a problem for people with heart disease. It raises the heart rate, contradicting the goal of most treatments. Tell your GP if you have heart disease and are using nicotine replacement.
British Heart Foundation
Salt Nicotine and Heart Health: What Does It Mean?
Given that salt nicotine is a form of nicotine, it carries the same risks to heart health as any other form of nicotine. The faster absorption rate and higher concentrations of nicotine used in nic salts could potentially lead to more significant effects on heart rate and blood pressure, as it delivers a quicker nicotine hit.
However, it’s important to note that while nicotine can have harmful effects on the heart, many of the severe cardiovascular risks associated with smoking come from other chemicals in tobacco smoke.
Vaping does not involve combustion and does not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke. Therefore, while vaping nicotine (including salt nicotine) is not risk-free, it is generally considered less harmful to heart health than smoking.
Conclusion
Nicotine, in any form, can increase heart rate and blood pressure, constrict blood vessels, and potentially disrupt heart rhythm. These effects can strain the heart and potentially lead to heart disease over time.
So, yeah, vaping is 100% better than smoking but long-term you’ll want to aim to do neither if you want to improve your overall health and longevity. In the meantime, before you decide to call it quits, here’s our pick of the best nic salt vape juices right now.
Leave a Reply