A new study finds nicotine patches are not associated with an increased risk of a heart attack. The result of this study supports previous studies that looked at the safety of nicotine patches.
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of the blockage of a heart artery by about two to fivefold.
Researchers began to question if nicotine patch use might increase the risk of heart problems. Lead researchers at the University of Pennsylvania looked at cases in 68 hospitals. Researchers found 653 of the patients had used a nicotine patch and more than 2,900 did not use the patch. The doctors concluded there is no association between the use of the patch and an increased risk of a heart attack. Researchers say their findings are consistent with the physiologic and pharmacologic properties of nicotine patches.