Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
June 15, 2026
E-Cigarette Coolants Linked to Irregular Heartbeats and Cardiac Risk
TLDR
- Avoid e-cigarettes with coolants WS-3 or WS-23; they triple arrhythmia risk, potentially reducing your cardiovascular performance.
- Synthetic coolants in e-cigarettes cause arrhythmias by altering heart rate variability and electrical recharge timing in mice and human cells.
- This research highlights hidden dangers in vapes, urging stricter regulation to protect public health, especially youth and vulnerable populations.
- Sales of synthetic coolant e-cigarettes surged 872% from 2020 to 2023, yet they may increase sudden cardiac arrest risk.
Impact - Why it Matters
This study matters because it reveals that synthetic cooling agents in e-cigarettes, which are largely unregulated and increasingly popular, can directly harm heart health by triggering arrhythmias. For millions of vapers, especially youth and those with pre-existing conditions, this raises urgent questions about the safety of these products. The findings underscore the need for stricter regulation and public awareness, as even FDA-authorized flavored e-cigarettes may pose cardiovascular risks. Understanding these effects could help prevent sudden cardiac arrest and guide policy to protect public health.
Summary
A groundbreaking study published today in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association, reveals that synthetic cooling ingredients added to e-cigarettes can cause abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) and increase cardiovascular risk. This independent research, led by Alex Carll, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, is the first to show that synthetic cooling agents like WS-3 and WS-23 may negatively affect heart health. The study conducted experiments on mice and lab-grown human heart cells, finding that these coolants, which create a chilling sensation without flavor, significantly disrupted heart rhythm, leading to premature heartbeats and increased stress responses.
The U.S. restricts many flavored e-cigarettes to reduce youth appeal, but exceptions for menthol and cooling agents remain. Synthetic coolants like WS-3 and WS-23 have surged in popularity, with sales increasing 872.1% between 2020 and 2023. The study found that adding these coolants to e-cigarettes with nicotine and solvents tripled the number of premature heartbeats in mice, especially with WS-23. In human heart cells, coolants slowed rhythm and sped up recharge between beats under stress. These findings suggest coolants could cause arrhythmias by making the heart electrically ready too soon or too late for the next beat, increasing the risk for sudden cardiac arrest.
Experts like Jason J. Rose, M.D., M.B.A., from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, emphasize that while the FDA authorizes some flavored e-cigarettes for adults, this does not mean they are safe. The American Heart Association's 2023 scientific statement, Cardiopulmonary Impact of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products, calls for more long-term research. Carll suggests policymakers review current rules about coolants in vapes, as they are added at very high levels and may warrant regulation. The study raises concern for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and those with heart disease, highlighting the need for further research to confirm these effects in humans.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, E-Cigarette Coolants Linked to Irregular Heartbeats and Cardiac Risk
