Is Vaping More Likely to Cause Stroke? Replicated Studies by European and U.S. Universities Debunk t

Recently, several universities from Italy, Greece, and the United States replicated previous studies, confirming once again that e-cigarettes cause less cellular damage, have minimal impact on cell repair and mobility, and can prevent cardiovascular diseases. Research from the University of Michigan and Georgetown University also indicates that using e-cigarettes does not increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and other related issues.

Smoking is harmful to health and is one of the factors that can trigger many diseases, including common lung diseases, oral health issues, and even cardiovascular diseases and strokes. The World Health Organization's 2021 Global Tobacco Epidemic Report states that over 80,000 people die each year from smoking tobacco products, so smokers should pay more attention to their health.

Given the frightening risks of smoking, how can smokers address nicotine dependence? A recent study published in the Wiley Analytical Science journal indicates that the aerosol from e-cigarette products causes less cellular damage than cigarette smoke. Generally, atherosclerosis mainly occurs due to issues with the vascular repair mechanism, and the healing and migration abilities of endothelial cells are crucial for successful vascular repair. Healthy endothelial cells can effectively prevent atherosclerosis, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.

Researchers from the University of Catania in Italy, the University of Patras in Greece, and the University of Pennsylvania in the United States found through experiments that even when the concentration of e-cigarette aerosol was increased to 80%-100%, its impact on endothelial cells was negligible. In contrast, even when cigarette smoke was diluted to 12.5%, it significantly reduced the healing and migration abilities of endothelial cells. This further proves that the harm of e-cigarettes is much less than that of traditional cigarettes. Therefore, for smokers who cannot escape nicotine dependence and want to avoid cardiovascular diseases or strokes, switching to e-cigarettes is the best choice.

Coincidentally, regarding the impact of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes on adult cardiovascular diseases, the University of Michigan and Georgetown University also have the latest related research. The article titled Longitudinal Associations Between Exclusive and Dual Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Cigarettes and Self-Reported Incident Diagnosed Cardiovascular Disease Among Adults was published in the Oxford Academic journal on nicotine and tobacco. Researchers analyzed 280 cases of myocardial infarction and 186 cases of stroke based on the Tobacco and Health Research Population Assessment (2013-2019) waves 1-5, and through mathematical modeling, they found that populations using only traditional cigarettes reported an increase in myocardial infarction and stroke cases within five years, while those using only e-cigarettes or never smoking had no correlation with this statistical outcome.

In summary, both experiments have verified the harm reduction effect of e-cigarettes to some extent, and for smokers, using e-cigarettes is an effective way to prevent or reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.

References

Massimo Caruso, Rosalia Emma, Alfio Distefano, et al. Comparative assessment of electronic nicotine delivery systems aerosol and cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration: The Replica Project. Wiley Analytical Science, 2022

Jana L Hirschtick, Steven Cook, Akash Patel, et al. Longitudinal Associations Between Exclusive and Dual Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Cigarettes and Self-Reported Incident Diagnosed Cardiovascular Disease Among Adults. Oxford Academic, 2023