PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There have been numerous studies looking at the cardiac risk of smoking cigarettes, but a significant number of Americans get their tobacco in other forms, such as cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco.
Do these products have an impact on the heart and cardiovascular system? A new report looked at 15 separate studies conducted between 1948 to 2015, and the results are important to know.
Cigars were associated with an increased risk of stroke, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Pipe smokers are at greater risk of heart failure, and those who use smokeless tobacco are at great risk for heart attack.
The studies focused only on cardiac issues and did not look at other effects on health. Essentially, all tobacco products are linked to cardiovascular issues.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.