Tobacco and Marijuana Induce Adverse Effects on Cardiac Function and Platelet Activity and Reduce Tissue Preservation Following Myocardial Infarction
This study examined how exposure to e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and cannabis smoke affects the cardiovascular system. Researchers found that even brief exposure can impair heart function and increase platelet aggregation, which may promote blood clot formation. More importantly, animals exposed to the smoke and aerosols from these products before a heart attack experienced greater heart damage, suggesting that these exposures can make the heart more vulnerable to injury during a heart attack. These findings are important because inhalable products are often perceived as safer alternatives to smoking cigarettes. These results challenge the assumption that non combustible or “reduced-harm” products are cardiovascularly benign and highlight the need to consider their potential effects on heart health.