Nicotine and the cardiovascular system: unmasking a global public health threat
Nicotine-containing products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, represent an increasing threat to cardiovascular health, particularly among young people. A new international expert policy statement by Prof. Thomas Münzel, Prof. Thomas F. Lüscher, and colleagues presents 12 evidence-based key messages demonstrating that nicotine itself is a direct cardiovascular toxin, independent of its delivery system. The document highlights its vascular and metabolic harms, the risks of passive exposure, and the growing burden of nicotine-related disease, while also addressing the emerging youth addiction crisis driven by flavoured products and marketing. Against the backdrop of evolving European regulation, the authors call for comprehensive tobacco control policies—including taxation, advertising bans, flavour restrictions, and indoor-use limitations—to protect cardiovascular health and prevent a new generation of nicotine dependence.
Read the full policy statement here
Florian A Wenzl