Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that is found in tobacco. In traditional cigarettes, dried tobacco and other additives burn and turn into smoke, which is inhaled. E-cigarettes also contain nicotine, but in a liquid form. The nicotine in e-cigarettes heats up and turns into vapor that gets inhaled. Makers claim that they are a better choice for smokers because they do not have the tobacco and other additives of traditional cigarettes. Nicotine is harmful to the body in many ways. It can:
Raise your blood pressure
Raise your heart rate
Make your blood vessels become narrow
Put you at a higher risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a condition that can also raise your risk of a heart attack
These factors can increase your risk for heart disease and other serious, potentially life-threatening conditions like heart attack or stroke.