Vaping Linked to Higher Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Lung Injuries
E-cigarettes, often perceived as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, have been under scrutiny for their potential health risks. New findings suggest that vaping can lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate, similar to smoking. Moreover, it has been linked to a surge in vaping-related lung injuries, particularly in 2019.
A significant concern is the increased likelihood of respiratory conditions among current e-cigarette users compared to non-users and smokers. This risk is compounded by the presence of carcinogens in vaping products, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and nitrosamines, which are also found in cigarettes.
The combination of smoking and vaping (dual use) can be as detrimental, if not more, than smoking alone. Certain vape products may contain diacetyl, a chemical linked to 'popcorn lung'. Furthermore, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer in Germany, responsible for nearly 20% of new cases annually, despite the potential reduction in toxins from switching to vaping. The long-term effects of vaping are still unclear, and more research is needed to understand the risks of alternating between smoking and vaping.
While some experts argue that vaping is less harmful than smoking, the long-term health impacts remain uncertain. Vaping can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory conditions, and shares many health risks with smoking. More high-quality studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation tool and to fully understand the long-term health implications of vaping.
