acute effects of electronic cigarettes on arterial pressure and peripheral sympathetic activity in young nonsmokers.

Introduction:
This article examines the acute effects of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) usage on arterial pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNa) in young, healthy nonsmokers. The study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that inhaling nicotine from the JUUL e-cigarette increases arterial pressure and decreases MSNa acutely. The results have implications for understanding the cardiovascular control mechanisms associated with e-cigarette use.

Key Points:

* The study used a randomized crossover design, with participants inhaling on a JUUL e-cigarette containing nicotine (59 mg/mL) and a similar placebo e-cigarette (0 mg/mL), with a washout period of 241 months between experiments.
* heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and MSNa were recorded at baseline, during vaping, and during recovery.
* acute e-cigarette usage increased mean arterial pressure leading to baroreflex-mediated inhibition of MSNa.
* The JUUL e-cigarette increased heart rate and mean arterial pressure, while decreasing MSNa, whereas the placebo e-cigarette elicited no sympathomimetic effects.
* The nicotine intervention caused a significant increase in whole blood cotinine concentrations, indicating successful nicotine exposure.
* Cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity calculated from SaP-RRI down sequences was reduced significantly with JUUL vaping.
* The decrease in MSNa activity with nicotine inhalation was paralleled by increases in mean arterial pressure during both inhalation and recovery.

Main Message:
The study's key message is that acute inhalation of nicotine from the JUUL e-cigarette induces a marked and sustained arterial pressor response and inhibits MSNa. This finding demonstrates that the cardiovascular control mechanisms associated with e-cigarette use are similar to those observed with traditional tobacco cigarettes. as e-cigarette usage among young nonsmokers increases, these results highlight the importance of understanding the potential cardiovascular risks associated with e-cigarette use.

Gonzalez JE, Cooke Wh. acute effects of electronic cigarettes on arterial pressure and peripheral sympathetic activity in young nonsmokers. american journal of physiology heart and circulatory physiology. 2021;320(1):h248-h255. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00448.2020