How smoking and vaping affect your heart
Tobacco use has an immediate effect on your heart. Quitting is the healthiest thing you can do.
If you've ever wondered how cigarettes or vape pens affect your heart, researchers now have clearer answers, especially about e-cigarettes.
"The effects of smoking or vaping on the cardiovascular system are extensive, and they start almost immediately," says David Saenger, MD, a cardiologist with PeaceHealth in Eugene/Springfield, Oregon.
Understanding the connection between tobacco use and heart health can help you make informed decisions for yourself or support someone you care about.
Why your heart's health matters
Your heart works nonstop to pump blood and oxygen throughout your body. When something interferes with that process, it can lead to cardiovascular disease — a group of conditions affecting your heart and blood vessels.
One common condition is coronary artery disease or CAD. It happens when a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside the blood vessels going to your heart. Over time, this can make those vessels narrower, which may lead to chest pain or a heart attack.
How smoking affects your heart
When someone smokes, it affects more than just the lungs. It changes the fats in your blood, makes blood more likely to clot and affects blood vessels. In fact, it's associated with one in four deaths from heart disease.
"Every cigarette causes changes in your blood vessels that increase your risk for heart disease and stroke," says Dr. Saenger.
Research shows that people who smoke are up to four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Smoking even just a few cigarettes a day can affect your heart health.
"Many smokers try to cut down on the amount that they smoke, thinking that this will decrease the risk. But a recent randomized trial showed that smokers who cut down to as few as 2-3 cigarettes a day have exactly the same increased risk of heart attack and stroke (600% increase) as those who continued to smoke a pack of cigarettes per day," he says. "Cutting down only wastes time and mental energy and won't decrease your risk."
What research shows about vaping
Do you think switching to e-cigarettes is a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes? Recent research reveals significant risks with vaping, too.
A large national study found that people who use e-cigarettes are almost 20% more likely to develop heart failure compared to those who never vaped. The study, which followed more than 175,000 people, accounted for other risk factors and substance use.
This increased risk was highest for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a condition in which your heart muscle gets too stiff to fill properly with blood between beats.
"We're seeing evidence that e-cigarettes can affect your heart in ways we didn't fully understand before," Dr. Saenger says. "If you've thought about replacing cigarettes with vaping, it might be more helpful to talk with your doctor about proven ways to quit."
Your heart can recover
Quitting smoking is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your heart health. This is true regardless of your age or how long you've smoked.
When you quit, your body starts healing almost immediately:
- A few minutes after you stop, your heart rate drops.
- A few days after, nicotine and carbon monoxide, the two most harmful chemicals in tobacco, leave your body.
- In 1 to 2 years, your heart attack risk drops sharply.
- After 3 to 6 years, your added risk of coronary heart disease drops by half.
- After 5 to 10 years, your stroke risk decreases. Your risk of many common cancers also drops significantly.
- After 15 years, your risk of CAD is almost the same as someone who never smoked.
The next step is up to you
"Your heart has an amazing ability to recover once you stop smoking or vaping," Dr. Saenger says. "The sooner you quit, the sooner your body can begin repairing itself. It's never too late to make that change."
When you're ready to quit, you have more options than ever. Treatment may include nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, counseling and support groups.
Many people find that combining several strategies helps. The CDC also recommends a combination of counseling and medication. Your doctor or care team can help you decide on an approach that will work for you.
Remember, your heart works hard for you every day. Taking steps to protect it can make a real difference.
