Vaping damages arteries ‘just as much as normal cigarettes’
![A person vaping. Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/RUxNODYxNTQzNDc=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![A person vaping. Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire](/img/placeholder.png)
Researchers studied more than 400 men and women aged between 21 and 45 made up of non-smokers, cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users and people who both smoked and vaped.
The team studied measures of blood vessel function in e-cigarette and dual users who had been using e-cigarettes for at least three months.
All e-cigarette users were former cigarette smokers.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association yesterday, found former smokers who switched to e-cigarettes and dual users had arteries that were just as stiff as those in traditional smokers. Author Jessica Fetterman, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, said stiffening of the arteries can contribute to heart disease.
She said: “Many people believe e-cigarettes are safer than combustible cigarettes.
“In fact, most e-cigarette users say the primary reason they use e-cigarettes is because they think e-cigarettes pose less of a health risk.
“Meanwhile, the evidence from scientific studies is growing that e-cigarettes might not be the safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes when it comes to heart health.
“Our study adds to that evidence. Stiffening of the arteries can cause damage to the small blood vessels, including capillaries, and puts additional stress on the heart, all of which can contribute to the development of heart disease.”
The study was funded through the Tobacco Centre of Regulatory Science of the American Heart Association.
The researchers also found the cells that line the blood vessels, called endothelial cells, appeared to be equally as damaged whether people used e-cigarettes, cigarettes or both.
Dr Fetterman said: “The endothelial cells from e-cigarette users or dual users produced less of the heart-protective compound nitric oxide, compared to non-tobacco users. Their cells also produced more reactive oxygen species, which cause damage to the parts of cells such as DNA and proteins.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Our study results suggest there is no evidence that the use of e-cigarettes reduces cardiovascular injury, dysfunction or harm associated with the use of combustible tobacco products.”
An independent report, commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), said vaping among young people in England had remained steady.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.