VAPERS ARE more likely to suffer a heart attack, develop coronary artery disease or experience depression compared with those that don’t use them.
That’s according to a new study from the University of Kansas that found e-cigarette users were 34% more likely to have a heart attack, 25% more likely to have coronary disease and 55% more likely to suffer depression or anxiety.
Most significantly, these associations remain true even when other cardiovascular risk factors like age, high cholesterol, blood pressure, sex, smoking and body mass index were considered.
Though the researchers were keen to stress that the study was unable to determine whether the damage had occurred prior to using e-cigarettes or was a direct result of vaping, their findings should serve as a “wake-up call” to anyone who believes vaping to be safe.
“Until now, little has been known about cardiovascular events relative to e-cigarette use,” Dr Mohinder Vindhyal, assistant professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita and the study’s lead author said.
“These data are a real wake-up call and should prompt more action and awareness about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
“When the risk of heart attack increases by as much as 34 percent among e-cigarettes users compared to nonsmokers, I wouldn’t want any of my patients nor my family members to vape.”
Data from a total of 96,467 respondents the National Health Interview Survey, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of Americans, was analysed as part of the study.
Researchers also compared data for smokers and non-smokers.
Traditional cigarette smokers had much higher odds of having a heart attack (165%), coronary artery disease (94%) and stroke (78%) compared with non-smokers.
They were also more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, circulatory problems, and depression or anxiety.
“Cigarette smoking carries a much higher probability of heart attack and stroke than e-cigarettes, but that doesn’t mean that vaping is safe,” added Dr Vindhyal said, adding that some e-cigarettes release toxic compounds.
“When we dug deeper, we found that regardless of how frequently someone uses e-cigarettes, daily or just on some days, they are still more likely to have a heart attack or coronary artery disease.”
The research was presented at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology.
The findings follow on from previous research into the effects of using e-cigarettes that suggested vaping could actually be worse for you than smoking.
It's all down to the flavourings in e-cigarettes, which scientists found can harm the lungs further by triggering lung inflammation.
They also discovered that even short-term use of an e-cigarette can cause as much if not more damage than actual smoking.
