New Delhi: New research is adding to growing concerns that vaping may carry serious risks for the heart, particularly for people who once smoked cigarettes. The findings challenge the popular view of e-cigarettes as a safer alternative and suggest that switching to vaping does not necessarily erase cardiovascular danger.
The analysis, which reviewed data from 12 observational studies, found that people who use e-cigarettes were significantly more likely to suffer a heart attack than those who do not vape. Overall, the risk was around 50 per cent higher. A smaller but still notable increase in stroke risk was also observed. Researchers say these figures matter because vaping has become widespread, especially among younger adults.
The strongest signal emerged among former smokers who had moved from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes. In this group, the likelihood of having a heart attack was more than twice that of non-vapers, while stroke risk rose sharply as well. Researchers adjusted their analysis to also take past smoking instances into account. This suggests that vaping itself can contribute to the risk rather than simply reflecting in a history of tobacco use.
The findings were published in a peer-reviewed public health journal, and while the authors acknowledged limitations, they warned against assuming that e-cigarettes are harmless. Because most of the evidence on the subject is observational, it cannot offer a direct effect or cause. Yet, the consistency of the association across multiple studies raises concerns among clinicians.
Heart attacks usually occur when the coronary arteries narrow as a consequence of fat accumulation. Over time, these can rupture and form clots that obstruct blood circulation to the heart muscle. And smoking is a known trigger for it, but scientists continue to examine whether vaping works the same way. Experimental studies also offer clues, but exposure to chemicals found in e-cigarettes can lead to inflammation and stiffening of blood vessels.
Inflammation is now recognised as a central feature of cardiovascular disease, damaging blood vessels and impairing their ability to function normally. Reduced flexibility in arteries makes the heart work harder and may increase the likelihood of clots forming.
Stroke risk may follow the same pattern. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, most often by a clot. Conditions that damage blood vessels or promote clotting can raise that risk. Previous research has already suggested that vapers are more likely than non-users to report stroke and heart disease, though researchers caution that long-term data are still limited.
Doctors are particularly uneasy about the rapid rise of vaping among teenagers. Millions of under-18s in the UK report having tried e-cigarettes, and a significant number use them regularly. Cardiologists note that exposing developing blood vessels to nicotine and other chemicals can have long-term consequences that become prominent later. There is also concern that vaping may act as a gateway to other risky behaviours. Studies have found that young people who vape are more likely to later drink heavily or use drugs, adding further strain to cardiovascular health.
While e-cigarettes are often promoted as a harm-reduction tool, researchers say the emerging evidence supports a more cautious message. Vaping may be less damaging than smoking, but it is not benign — especially when it comes to the heart.