Smoking's Hidden Dangers: How Heat-Not-Burn Products Affect Your Blood Vessels

Cigarette smoke from heat-not-burn products, which are marketed as safer alternatives, can still harm the body. This is because they contain chemicals that can damage cells in the blood vessels. These chemicals are called alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. They are found in the smoke of these products. These compounds can cause a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis. This is a process that involves the breakdown of cell membranes due to the buildup of iron and lipid peroxides. To understand this better, researchers looked at how these compounds affect vascular smooth muscle cells. These are the cells that make up the walls of blood vessels. They found that the smoke extract from these products can reduce the activity of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell. They also found that the smoke extract can increase the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase. This is an enzyme that is released when cells are damaged. These harmful effects were not seen when the carbonyl compounds were removed from the smoke. The researchers then tested the specific alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds found in the smoke. They found that these compounds can cause cell damage. This damage can be prevented by a substance called UAMC-3203. This substance is a ferroptosis inhibitor. This suggests that these compounds might be involved in the cell damage caused by the smoke extract. So, what does this mean for those who use heat-not-burn products? It's important to understand that these products are not harmless. They contain chemicals that can cause cell damage and potentially lead to health problems. More research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of these products. But for now, it's clear that they are not a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. It's also important to note that the smoke from these products contains other harmful chemicals. These chemicals can also contribute to cell damage and health problems. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of the potential risks associated with these products. And to think critically about the information that is presented to you. It is easy to believe that these products are safer. But the science tells a different story.