For nearly two decades, electronic cigarettes have been marketed under the guise of a "clean" or "safe" alternative to traditional combustible tobacco. This narrative has been remarkably effective, fueling a massive surge in use among adolescents and young adults who operate under the dangerous assumption of a zero-health risk. However, as the medical community moves past the marketing fog, the latest clinical evidence reveals a disturbing molecular footprint and a systemic health legacy that the industry rarely discusses.

Heart disease is often culturally coded as an "old man’s problem", a condition of the silver-haired and the sedentary. This stereotype is not just inaccurate; it is lethal. Every year, more than 15,000 women in the United States under the age of 55 die from heart disease, making it a leading cause of death for this demographic.

The tragedy lies in the disparity of outcomes. Research reveals that young women have twice the risk of dying during a hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to men of the same age. For those who survive the initial event, the road ahead remains treacherous: their subsequent mortality risk is approximately 50% higher than their male counterparts.