Electronic cigarettes and vaporizers are often seen as a less harmful alternative to traditional smoking. However, according to scientists from Exeter regular vaping can increase blood pressure and thus the risk of serious heart disease. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are the most common cause of human death.
In research published in the American Journal of Physiology, they looked at the connection between smoking, vaping and high blood pressure, i.e. hypertension. Authors analyzed data from 6,262 participants aged 12 to 80 who were part of the American Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of this group, 1,190 people said they had used a nicotine product in the previous five days – traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or a combination of both.
The researchers measured the blood pressure of all participants three times using a cuff on the arm and calculated the average value. They defined elevated blood pressure as a value of 120/70 mmHg or higher, hypertension as 140/90 mmHg or higher. They also analyzed blood samples to detect levels of cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is produced in the liver in response to inflammation in the body.
The results show that people who smoked or vaped had significantly higher blood pressure than non-smokers and a 46% higher risk of hypertension. People who only vaped had a 15% higher risk of high blood pressure than non-smokers. “This increase in pressure can shorten the time the heart needs to rest before the next cycle, which can eventually damage the heart and lead to arrhythmia, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure and heart attacks,” said study author Andrew Agbaje.
Smokers and e-cigarette users were generally younger, had higher cholesterol and CRP levels, and also had more excess body fat than non-smokers. Researchers have also found that cholesterol plays a significant role in how nicotine use contributes to an increase in blood pressure. “Encouraging young people not to start smoking or vaping may be a safer way to prevent long-term hypertension and cardiovascular disease,” the authors said.
