Vaping May Raise Heart Failure Risk, Study Finds

Is vaping really less dangerous than smoking? Not when it comes to your heart health, a new study warns.

Researchers compared e-cigarette use to heart failure rates in nearly 176,000 adults. After four years of follow-up, the results showed that participants who vaped were 19% more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, even after accounting for other heart disease factors and the use of substances such as alcohol and tobacco.

The researchers found that a particular type of heart failure, known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, was more prevalent. In this form, the heart pumps normally but is too stiff to fill properly. The lead researcher says more studies are linking vaping to harmful effects. He states, "The difference we saw was substantial. It's worth considering the consequences to your health, especially with regard to heart health."

It's estimated that 5 to 10% of teens and adults now vape.