Is vaping ‘safer’ than smoking? The benefits may not be as obvious

You may have heard that vaping is a “safer” option than smoking. But what if the thing meant to protect your health also affects your health? Heart At risk?

Vaping does not exist in isolation. it’s part of a Comprehensive story about smoking, inequality and the burden is increasing heart disease In Britain. Despite years of public health campaigns, smoking remains common in the most deprived areas of England.

The reasons are complex. People living with financial constraints, insecure jobs And chronic stress More likely to smoke. Targeted marketing and limited access to smoking cessation services make it even more difficult to quit. At the same time, one in two adults in Britain has high cholesterol, and many people do not know it.

Reports show that rates are highest among people in the poorest communities smoking and other risk factors for heart disease, including increased cholesterol.

As vaping Becoming more common in these same communities, a new form of nicotine use may take its place Heart Risk with others. Many people are now turning to vapes to reduce the harm from cigarettes, but growing evidence suggests that the benefits may not be as clear as previously thought.

Research shows that vaping can help some people quit smoking more effectively than other methods, but new findings challenge the notion that e-cigarettes are a harmless alternative.

Several studies have now linked vaping to damage to arteries in both the brain and heart, even in people who have never smoked traditional cigarettes. The cells that line our blood vessels, known as endothelium, keep arteries flexible, regulate blood pressure and prevent fatty deposits from sticking to the walls. When these cells become damaged, the arteries lose elasticity and blood flow becomes less efficient, increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

One study found that regular vapers impaired blood vessel function. Their arteries can no longer expand and contract properly. Other research on humans and animals exposed to vapor has shown less flexible arteries, higher blood pressure, and damaged endothelium in both the brain and heart. This arterial stiffness increases the chances of heart attack, stroke and dementia.

So what’s behind this damage? When someone vapes, the vapor carries nicotine, chemicals and particulates into the bloodstream. These trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, which means the body’s defenses become heightened and begin attacking healthy tissues. Vaping also reduces nitric oxide, a molecule that helps vessels relax, while increasing harmful free radicals. Together, these effects make the arteries less able to do their job and more susceptible to disease, increasing the risk of heart problems.

Vaping can increase blood pressure and heart rate even after a single session. Over time, this mixture of irritation, inflammation and stress causes arteries to deteriorate, even in people who have never smoked before.

The UK’s NHS health check program mainly screens people aged forty and over at risk of heart disease. Yet vaping is most common in people under 40, and this age group is not routinely screened for early vessel injury. Young vapers can therefore silently cause artery damage for years before any problems appear on standard tests. Evidence suggests that vaping may cause early changes in the arteries similar to those caused by smoking, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life.

That’s why education and prevention are so important. Schools and public health campaigns play an important role in showing youth that vaping has long-term risks, including heart damage. Programs that combine classroom learning with interactive activities make a real difference. Initiatives such as Catch Your Breath and Essex’s Break the Vape aim to stop young people from starting to vape before they start, and support those who want to quit, reducing their risk of heart disease in the future.

The wide variation in heart disease deaths across England shows that prevention efforts are still not reaching everyone equally. A whole-systems approach is necessary for CVD prevention. Schools, councils, NHS services and local communities need to work together to tackle shared risk factors such as smoking and vaping.

Screening cannot yet detect early artery damage in young adults, but education is our best defense. Helping youth understand how vaping affects the heart can protect the next generation from the hidden dangers of nicotine addiction and cardiovascular damage.