Smokers who make the change to e-cigarettes will reduce their risk of developing heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases by 30-40%, according to a new study.
This exciting evidence proves that vaping is better for the cardiovascular system compared to smoking and shows that making the change from cigarettes to e-cigs will lower chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
We hope this provides fresh incentive and inspiration for smokers to finally stub those cigarettes out for good and switch to a safer alternative. Read on for a quick overview of the study and to learn about why vaping is so much better for your heart!
E-Cigarette Use and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease 2022 Analysis
The study was published in American Heart Association's (AHA) journal in May 2022 and is a follow-up from The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study from 2019. The 2022 study surveyed 24,027 participants from the original study and analysed the use of cigarettes and vape kits in relation to any self-reported diagnosis of CVD incidents, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, heart failure, or stroke.
The study found that the use of e-cigarettes correlated with a 30-40% lower risk of CVD when compared with smokers:
“After adjusting for covariates, participants exclusively using e-cigarettes had risk of developing any CVD condition that did not differ from non-users… Compared with smoking, e-cigarette use was associated with 30% to 40% lower CVD risk, although this association was only significant for the CVD outcome.”
Smokers self-reported 569 CVD incidents compared to only 41 in vape users. When looking more specifically at incidents of heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, smokers experienced 242 events, but vapers reported just 15 incidents.
Dual Use Is Not Beneficial
However, the findings discovered that dual use of cigarettes and vaping negated any reduction of health risks associated with switching to vaping.
Therefore, if you are concerned about the health risks associated with smoking, it is best to switch to vaping exclusively, rather than cutting back on cigarettes and using a vape kit.
Why Does Smoking Cause Heart Disease?
The chemicals in smoke leave deposits of fat inside the body, coating the inside of the arteries, which causes the arteries to narrow. This puts additional strain on the heart, increasing the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
Cardiovascular Effects of Switching From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes
Another study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2019 came to a similar conclusion.
The research was carried out by a team of scientists at the University of Dundee, titled “Cardiovascular Effects of Switching From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes”, and concluded that switching to vaping could lower the chances of heart attack or stroke in a matter of weeks.
The study looked specifically at heavy smokers – people who had been going through at least 15 cigarettes a day for the past two years. They were told to stop smoking cigarettes and use nicotine e-cigarettes instead, with their cardiovascular health monitored closely.
After four weeks, the results showed a huge improvement in cardiovascular function, meaning the chances of having a heart attack or stroke were greatly reduced when people switched smoking for vaping.
Vaping Improves Blood Vessel Dilation to Reduce Risk of Heart Attack
The study focused on the subjects’ cardiovascular function, specifically by monitoring their blood vessel expansion levels. The team looked at this because blood vessel expansion is a good indicator of overall heart health – when blood vessel expansion is limited (which happens as a result of smoking cigarettes), the risk of heart attack or stroke increases.
The average, healthy non-smoker has a blood vessel dilation score of 7.7%, while heavy smokers sit at around 5.5%. The study found that after just one month of using e-cigarettes, the subjects’ scores saw significant improvement, growing to an average of 6.7%!
This shows that e-cigarettes are a much better choice for your heart compared to smoking, and making the swap will also give the body a chance to improve in health within a fairly quick timeline.
Switch from Smoking to Vaping
It’s no secret that we’re huge advocates of vaping and encourage smokers to make healthier life choices. We already know that e-cigarettes are 95% healthier than tobacco cigarettes, and these findings from the team at the University of Dundee and the American Heart Association provide all the more motivation to move forward with a better alternative.
If you want more information on how to make the swap, check out our in-depth guide about using e-cigarettes to quit smoking and visit the NHS website to learn where you can access further support.
The team at RED Box Vape are also here to encourage you and answer any questions you might have about e-cigarettes and vaping – get in touch and get excited about making a better choice for your heart!