Cooling ingredients in vapes might cause irregular heartbeats
Cooling vape additives like menthol, WS-3, and WS-23 may affect heart rhythm and blood vessels.Summary
For years, flavor additives in e-cigarettes were treated as less important than nicotine, but researchers are increasingly studying whether cooling agents have independent health effects. Menthol and synthetic compounds such as WS-3 and WS-23 activate the TRPM8 cold-sensing receptor, creating a cooling sensation without actually lowering aerosol temperature, which may make vaping feel smoother and encourage deeper or more frequent inhalation. In mice, menthol-containing e-cigarette aerosols increased heart rate, blood pressure, epinephrine levels, and ventricular premature beats, with some rhythm-regulation changes detectable weeks later. Laboratory studies also suggest some flavoring chemicals can damage blood vessel lining cells and promote inflammation or cell stress, even without nicotine. The article stresses that cooling flavors have not been proven to cause heart disease in humans, but growing evidence shows they are biologically active and warrant further research.
(Source：The Conversation)
