Published in Addiction, the study titled, “Tobacco Use Disorder and Cardiovascular Health,” reported that the use of combustible tobacco products, smokeless tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems, increased the incidence of both acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. The researchers added that these harmful effects can be reversed relatively quickly after quitting.
To this effect, the research team recommended the more traditional methods for smoking cessation. “Recommended cessation treatment includes offering pharmacotherapy, counseling which should emphasize the rapid risk reduction that occurs after quitting, and adequate follow-up contacts.”
Siegel debunks theory that vaping causes heart attacks
Meanwhile, a study by renowned community health sciences professor at Boston University Michaell Siegel, debunked claims that vaping causes heart attacks. Titled, “Re-examining the Association Between E-Cigarette Use and Myocardial Infarction: A Cautionary Tale,” this study refuted three earlier studies which had broadly associated vaping with an increased risk of heart attacks, even among never smokers. “Among never-smokers, the use of electronic cigarettes is not associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack,” said Siegel as quoted by Filter.
One of the flawed studies, titled, “Electronic Cigarette Use and Myocardial Infarction Among Adults in the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health,” was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2019 and co authored by the infamous Stanton Glantz. The cross-sectional study used data from the baseline survey of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) collected in 2013-2014, looking for a relationship between vaping and heart attacks.
The initial study failed to factor in smoking
On the other hand, the new study collected data from 175,546 respondents who participated in the annual National Health Interview Survey between 2014 and 2019. The research team found that daily e-cigarette use was only associated with higher heart attack incidence among people who were also currently smoking regular cigarettes.
Moreover, they found no evidence of increased risk among vapers who had never smoked. These findings confirm Siegel’s earlier suspicions, that the initial study had drawn its conclusions about a perceived relationship between vaping and smoking without factoring in smoking, which is no doubt in this case a very significant variable.
Another Study Linking Vaping to Heart Attacks Has Been Retracted
