A comprehensive study conducted in South Korea and published in the scientific journal European Heart Journal shows that smokers who suffered from heart problems and then switched to e-cigarettes had a significantly reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The study is called "a milestone" by the doctor and e-cigarette researcher Konstantinos Farsalinos.
The South Korean study focused on how switching from traditional smoking to e-cigarettes affects the risk of heart-related complications. Nearly 18,000 patients who underwent 'percutaneous coronary intervention' (PCI), which involves catheter-based balloon dilation and stenting of coronary arteries, were followed for three years. The results show that switching to e-cigarettes was an effective option to reduce the risks of smoking-related heart problems.
Full transition is important
Patients were divided into groups based on their tobacco and e-cigarette habits after surgery. Those who continued to smoke cigarettes, those who switched completely to vejp, and those who stopped smoking without using e-cigarettes.
The results showed that those who switched completely to e-cigarettes had an 18% lower risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, compared to those who continued smoking cigarettes. The researchers emphasise that complete switching to e-cigarettes was crucial to the results, while dual use of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes showed no significant health benefits at all.
Alternative solutions bring health benefits
Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos, cardiologist and senior researcher at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre in Athens, has commented on the study. He calls it a milestone and emphasises the importance of providing smokers with evidence-based alternatives.
"This study shows that switching to e-cigarettes can reduce the risks of smoking-related heart disease, especially for patients already suffering from serious heart problems" writes Dr Farsalinos on his blog.
"Many patients with heart disease find it difficult to quit smoking completely. Offering them alternative solutions, such as e-cigarettes, can bring significant health benefits," he continues.
Less harmful, but not risk-free
He says the study emphasises how difficult it is for many smokers to quit. The fact that half of the patients did not quit smoking even after major heart surgery speaks volumes. Although e-cigarettes can reduce some risk factors compared to cigarettes, they are not considered completely risk-free. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes, especially in heart patients.
