Here’s what we’ll cover in this blog post:
- How vaping is less safe than it seems
- How vaping increases risk of heart failure
- How science says is the truth about vaping
- Safe alternatives & strategies to quit now
Does vaping reduce heart health? That’s the burning question on everyone’s mind after a recent study suggested that even taking one puff from an e-cigarette could raise the risk of heart failure.
Here, we’ll discuss how new research shows that vaping isn’t the safe alternative we once thought it was, and whether the choice is worth the risk.
Vaping: The (Not-So) Safe Alternative
Vaping has developed a reputation as the safer alternative to smoking. By replacing tobacco and lighters with atomizers, salts, and e-liquid, vapes assume an air of discrete sophistication.
They don’t smell like normal cigarettes, many don’t produce visible smoke, and some can fit in your watch pocket. They look safer, and so many users feel safer too, even as they sneak a puff in a crowded room.
But underneath that sleek design and modern technology lies a heart health risk that’s just as serious as cigarettes. That colorful device you’re slipping into your pocket? It may be the equivalent of up to 50 cigarettes.
Now, more comprehensive studies are revealing the truth behind vaping, and the results are confirming what many doctors suspected all along.
Can Vaping Reduce Heart Health?
The latest study from the American College of Cardiology reports that vaping even once can increase your risk of heart failure.
The study surveyed patient records for over 175,000 US adults, using data from the All of Us study. Researchers analyzed patients who had never vaped and compared them to those who had vaped at least once in their life.
They found that patients who vaped at any point in their lives were 19% more likely to develop heart failure than those who had never used cigarettes.
This may not seem like much, but keep in mind that your heart is like an engine running your body. Would you drive your car if you knew that it had a one in five chance of engine failure?
During the study, researchers noted that there was no association between frequency of vaping and heart failure. That means that patients who vaped every so often were equally at risk as those who vaped every day.
To get the best results, the researchers also excluded anyone who smoked traditional cigarettes. In other words, this study only considered vaping risk alone, which means the results are for vaping alone.
How Does Vaping Reduce Heart Health?
Vapes don’t contain as many harmful chemicals as cigarettes, but vapes still contain harmful chemicals.
Vaping exposes your lungs to phthalates, formaldehyde, chromium, and lead—all carcinogens that are known to cause cancer. These chemicals also damage your heart and blood vessels, which leads to atherosclerosis, plaque buildup, and eventually heart failure.
But many vapes also contain nicotine, which is known to cause heart disease, and the same chemical that prospective quitters are looking to avoid. If cigarettes are harmful because of nicotine, why is vaping safer with nicotine?
Vaping was first marketed as a way to quit cigarettes, and few studies could say otherwise at the time. Now that vaping has persisted for decades, scientists have plenty of data to refute this claim.
In an interview with Medical News Today, lead researcher Yakubu Bene-Alhasan shed more light on the findings. “This was not too surprising,” he explained, “as previous studies have hinted at a risk of harm with e-cigarette use.”
That vaping was only previously “hinted” as harmful may help explain why vaping got its undeserved reputation as a safe alternative to smoking. This study from the American College of Cardiology emerges as one of the few, comprehensive, independent studies on the dangers of vaping, but it wasn’t the first.
But safer is not the same as safe.
What Are Safe Alternatives to Smoking?
The truth is that the only safe alternative to smoking is quitting. But there are simple steps we can take to help make the transition away from smoking—or vaping— much easier.
Avoiding triggering habits is one of the best ways to quit. Start by choosing new, healthy activities that you don’t associate with smoking. If you often find yourself lighting a cigarette with your morning coffee, choose to go for a run instead. Caffeine and alcohol are recognized as common triggers, so switch to fruit juice or B12 if you need a morning boost!
Setting up an exercise routine is another great way to quit smoking. Exercising can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms you may feel after quitting. It can also improve your heart health, relieve stress, and limit weight gain that some people have when they quit.
When the going gets tough, turn to friends and family to support you on your journey. Many of your closest relations have likely gone through this journey too. Listen to their stories and seek their advice to find paths that are right for you. You don’t have to stop talking to smokers, but if being around them is a trigger, then let them know.
There are also apps designed to help you quit smoking. quitSTART is a free app developed by the CDC that has helped thousands in their own smoke-free journey. The app features daily tips, engaging games, and timely check-ins to help you track your progress. Other popular apps like Smoke Free or Kwit have noted similar success by using science-backed techniques to encourage new lifestyles.
Smoke-Free Longevity
The key is to put each decision in terms of adding healthy years to your life. These new studies make it clear that choosing between vaping or smoking is like choosing between heart failure or lung cancer. But we can make our own choices when we take control of our health.
Living smoke-free is one of many ways we can avoid age-related disease and extend our lifespan. Replacing our bad habits only adds another tool to your longevity toolkit. Whatever you do, let your next habit be a positive addition to your longevity.
Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.