A new study has linked the use of e-cigarettes or vapes to an increased risk of heart attacks, particularly among former traditional cigarette smokers. This revelation has sparked worries about the cardiovascular safety of e-cigarettes, with researchers cautioning against assuming they’re a risk-free alternative to standard cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are handheld devices that heat a liquid—usually containing nicotine and flavourings—enabling users to inhale vapour instead of smoke. As these devices don’t burn tobacco, it’s thought that users aren’t exposed to the same chemical levels as those smoking conventional cigarettes.
The review and meta-analysis, published in the BMC Public Health journal, amalgamated data from 12 observational studies with large population samples to investigate if e-cigarette use was associated with myocardial infarction and stroke.
The study found that e-cigarette users had a 1.53 times higher risk of myocardial infarction than non-users. They also had a 1.05 times higher risk of stroke than non-users.
Former traditional cigarette smokers who now use e-cigarettes were found to have more than double the risk of heart attacks compared to non-users. They also had a 1.73 times higher risk of stroke than non-users.
These findings suggest that e-cigarettes could pose a higher risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, even after accounting for the effects of cigarette smoking.
However, the researchers have emphasised the need for further studies to validate these findings and guide policymakers on the health implications of e-cigarette use.
At present, vaping is more prevalent than smoking in the UK, with many individuals utilising e-cigarettes as a tool to quit traditional tobacco smoking.
According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), approximately 5.5 million adults in Great Britain vape, equating to roughly 10% of the adult population.
Over half of current vapers are ex-smokers, while around 40% are dual users, consuming both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes.
Only a small fraction, about 5%, of vape users have never smoked traditional cigarettes.
A review conducted earlier this year revealed that smokers who used nicotine-infused vapes were nearly twice as likely to successfully quit smoking compared to those using other nicotine replacement products.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
