How nicotine attacks the blood vessels: Mapping the biological hierarchy of cardiovascular harm
A review published in Nature Reviews Cardiology details the biological mechanisms by which nicotine damages blood vessels. The study confirms that nicotine triggers inflammation and clot formation regardless of the delivery method.
Why it matters
Understanding these specific biological pathways helps clarify the health risks associated with all nicotine products, including vapes and tobacco, which are leading causes of preventable death.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A review published in Nature Reviews Cardiology provides the most detailed picture yet of how nicotine damages the cardiovascular system —tracing the biological chain of events from the moment nicotine binds to receptors in blood vessel walls through to the atherosclerotic plaque rupture that triggers heart attacks and strokes.
Tobacco use and nicotine addiction remain among the leading preventable causes of premature death worldwide. In 2023 alone, more than 1 billion people globally smoked tobacco, causing an estimated 5.81 million deaths from direct tobacco use and a further 1.66 million deaths among nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke. Close to 40% of these deaths are attributable to cardiovascular disease.
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