Nicotine Levels in Toenail Clippings Predict Heart Disease
The level of nicotine in a woman’s toenails is an accurate indicator of heart disease risk.
Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease but doctors cannot always obtain accurate data about a patient’s smoking history by just asking. Toenails grow very slowly so their nicotine concentration gives a more accurate picture of long-term exposure – including second-hand smoke.
Researchers examined toenail clippings from 62,500 nurses and found that those who had heart disease had approximately twice as much nicotine in their toenails as healthy women. Women with high nicotine concentrations were more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, to drink heavily, to have a family history of smoking and to be thinner than those with less nicotine.
While nicotine itself does not cause heart disease, it functions as a measure of overall tobacco exposure.
People who smoke are two times as likely to suffer a heart attack in their life time as those who don’t. Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to reduce this risk.
