LOOKING TO QUIT - WHY NOT TRY A FREE VAPE OR E-CIG STARTER KIT*

REASONS WHY VAPING IS BETTER FOR YOUR HEART THAN SMOKING

REASONS WHY VAPING IS BETTER FOR YOUR HEART THAN SMOKING

Table of Contents

E-Cigarettes and vaping is a growing industry, and it really is no surprise - despite many articles providing inaccurate and incomplete information regarding the safety of e-cigarettes and the liquids used in them, all the evidence points towards vaping being much less harmful than cigarette smoking.

The UK’s National Health Service is beginning to licence electronic cigarettes as a tool to stop smoking, recognising at the highest level of medical authority that electronic cigarettes are significantly less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes. 

VAPING VS SMOKING: WHY IS VAPE CONSIDERED TO BE THE SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING?

Vaping is a way of delivering the highly addictive nicotine, found in tobacco, into the body in the same action as smoking - inhaling. The difference is that smoking tobacco requires combustion - burning - where vaping uses a coil to heat the e-liquid into an aerosol, which is inhaled.
 
The act of burning anything results in an amount of incomplete combustion, which means that the carbon molecules are not fully oxidised - this results in carbon monoxide being formed, instead of carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide is problematic because it sticks to our blood cells, reducing their ability to transport oxygen around the body. 

E-cigarettes heat the e-liquid - this is the mixture that contains the nicotine - into an aerosol, so no burning takes place.

WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL CHEMICALS/SUBSTANCES FOUND IN CIGARETTES?

Tobacco smoke contains a litany of harmful chemicals including:

Hydrogen cyanide (chemical weapon) 

Formaldehyde (carcinogen)

Arsenic (carcinogen)

Benzene (carcinogen)

Nitrosamines (many are carcinogenic) 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (some of these get broken down in the body and turned into compounds that damage DNA)

Over 60 chemicals in tobacco smoke are known to cause cancer; tar clogs up the lungs, carbon monoxide clogs up red blood cells - all in all, tobacco smoke contains a lot of nasty stuff that doesn’t do you any good! 

Tobacco companies have been tailoring their cigarettes for high nicotine bioavailability - this means many of the extra chemicals added to tobacco increase the absorption of nicotine. 

HOW DOES SMOKING AFFECT YOUR CARDIO-VASCULAR HEALTH?

One of the big reasons cigarette users need to stop smoking is the increased risk of cardiovascular disease that smoking induces. 

Smokers typically have higher resting heart rates than their non-smoking counterparts, but smoking also slows the natural increase in heart rate when engaging in exercise (1). This means the heart is having a hard time adjusting to the increased demand for energy, struggling to deliver oxygen fast enough. Smokers also fall short of their age-predicted maximum heart rate (HRmax), this demonstrates the potential damage from smoking.

medical research found vaping and e-cigarettes are much less harmful for your heart compared to smoking cigarettes

Smoking also triggers a number of processes that lead to arteriosclerosis which is the hardening of the arteries. Smoking contributes to this by increasing insulin resistance, this leads to more glucose in the blood which contributes to the build-up of plaque in the blood vessels; these plaques end up blocking the blood vessels, and this is known as thrombosis. 

Dyslipidemia is another process triggered by smoking: this is abnormal levels of cholesterol and other fats (lipids) in the blood, and this contributes to the build up of arterial plaque. These blockages reduce blood flow - this means the heart needs to pump faster, which leads to increased blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack and other heart disease. 

According to the American Heart Association, the risk of ischemic stroke in smokers is almost twice that of non-smokers (2). The reduced oxygen-carrying capabilities of the blood due to carbon monoxide, in addition to the build-up of plaques in the blood vessels, increases the likelihood of a clot that blocks blood flow to the brain - resulting in a stroke. 

HOW DOES SWITCHING TO VAPING HELP QUIT SMOKING?

The good news is that your body begins to recover when you pack in the cigarettes. New evidence indicates that this includes switching over to vaping!

A study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicated that switching from smoking to vaping allows the body to start to recover, with significant improvements seen in the space of a single month (3). The improvements observed were in regard to the blood vessels: their stiffness decreased, and the lining of the blood vessels (the endothelium) that control the relaxing and constricting of the vessels themselves, saw improved functionality.

University of Dundee research found that people who switch to e-cigarettes see a dramatic reduction in the risk of heart attack within just 4 weeks

These improvements in the space of a single month suggest that vaping long term is better for your health than staying a long term smoker. This is more positive evidence that indicates current cigarette smokers can use electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool. 

SMOKING VS VAPING. WHAT DO THE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SAY?

The Royal College of Physicians, UK, assessed the available data and concluded that e-cigarettes would unlikely surpass 5% of the damage done by traditional tobacco products. Public Health England agrees with this statement; the latest evidence review concludes that e-cigarettes are around 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes. (4)

Public Health England state that e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful that traditional cigarettes
For the past few years, stories have been hitting the newspapers about e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury (EVALI). Over in the US, ingredients were being added to vape liquids that are not allowed here in the UK and Europe - flavourings like diacetyl is one such liquid and causes the lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans, or ‘popcorn lung’. 

Another problematic additive found to cause EVALI in vapers is vitamin E acetate - in the US, some young people are using vitamin E acetate to add THC (tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound in cannabis) to e-liquids (5). The CDC recommends not adding any substances not intended by the manufacturer.

A study that investigated the contents and composition of e-cigarette aerosol illustrates the apparent reduction in harm that vaping has, compared to smoking. While the newspapers were honest in that some of the same chemicals are generated in e-cigarettes, the quantities found in e-cigarettes were fractions of those found in tobacco smoke.

The same study found 99.9% of the exhaled e-cigarette aerosol to be water and glycerine, and the lack of side stream smoke generated by an e-cigarette means that there is not the same risk from ‘passive vaping’. (6)

The study also referenced another investigation that used machine generated e-cigarette aerosol in an enclosed space, and found that the levels of harmful particulates (shared with tobacco smoke) did not exceed background levels, supporting the idea that ‘passive vaping’ does not carry the same dangers as passive smoking. 

quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do for your heart

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT VAPE DEVICE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO QUIT SMOKING?

We have established that switching to vaping is a big step in the right direction for any smoker. The first step on this journey is choosing a device that works for your needs!

Long term smokers may find a cig-a-like to be the best starting device: the cig-a-likes have the same appearance as a cigarette, making for an easy swap! A small pod system looks quite different from a cigarette, but is a convenient size and functions very similarly to a cigalike. 

For someone making the switch from cigarettes, I would highly recommend going for one of the simple, straightforward options; like the cig-a-like or a small pod system. The bigger vape pens and box mods require more maintenance, more spare parts, time to fill the tank, carrying bottles of liquid with you - a lot more effort is required. A stress free option is probably the best for someone quitting smoking!

REASONS WHY VAPING IS BETTER FOR YOUR HEART THAN SMOKING - CONCLUSION

It has taken some time, but with each new study, we find promising indications that the harm from vaping is far outweighed by the harm from smoking. 

From the massively reduced levels of toxins, to the elimination of tar and carbon monoxide, all signs point to vaping as much less harmful than smoking, and smokers should be encouraged to try e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, particularly if they haven’t had success with other methods. The evidence says your heart will thank you!

If you are an adult smoker who is looking for some help to quit cigarettes, here are some of the UK's most popular e-cigarette and vape starter kit deals designed to help you to quit for good.

*2024 Update - Now you can make the switch with the New SMOKO VAPE POD! Our great-tasting, UK-made e-liquids in a pre-filled pod-style vape!

REFERENCES

(1) Effects of smoking on heart rate at rest and during exercise, and on heart rate recovery, in young adults

(2) Cigarette Smoking, Cardiovascular Disease, and Stroke

(3) Cardiovascular Effects of Switching From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes

(4) E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review

(5) Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

(6) Comparison of Select Analytes in Exhaled Aerosol from E-Cigarettes with Exhaled Smoke from a Conventional Cigarette and Exhaled Breaths

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Written by Dan Overgage

Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes.  Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking.  During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.

 

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EACH CIGARETTE YOU SMOKE TAKES 11 MINUTES OFF YOUR LIFE

SMOKING IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE THINGS FOR OUR HEALTH

For the last 5 decades, doctors and medical professionals have been saying that smoking cigarettes is one of the worst things for your health.

Over 80,000 people a year die prematurely in the UK due to smoking-related diseases.

Cigarettes have been found to cause over 14 types of cancer, can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and lead to debilitating respiratory issues like COPD and asthma.

WHAT SMOKING DOES TO YOU BODY
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UK DOCTORS NOW RECOMMEND SWITCHING TO VAPING

LEADING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AGREE VAPING IS 95% LESS HARMFUL THAN SMOKING

Leading medical groups and researchers all agree that "e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than smoking" because they don't have the same harmful chemicals in cigarettes.

From Public Health England, Cancer Research UK or the Royal College of Midwives, they all agree that quitting smoking or finding a healthier alternative like vaping is something all adult smokers should do immediately.

Some medical studies also show that nicotine can help to control your appetite - so vaping may help you to lose weight as well!

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MILLIONS OF EX-SMOKERS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE QUIT SMOKING WITH VAPING

We started SMOKO E-Cigarettes over 10 years ago to give adult smokers a realistic and less harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes.

Over the time, we have helped 10's of 1,000's of smokers in over 25 countries around the world to finally stop smoking for good! And many of our customers were very heavy smokers who have been able to quit!

SMOKO has prevented over 600,000,000 cigarettes from being smoked and stop 230,000 more each and every day!

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THE UK'S BEST VAPES ARE MADE IN THE UK

Many of the disposable vapes sold in convenience stores use Chinese made e-liquids and ingredients,

Here are SMOKO we do things very differently! All of the vape juice we use in our vaping products are created using the highest quality ingredients and flavours that are Made in the UK. This means you are getting the best vape kits in the UK.

We use freebase nicotine - instead of nic salts - in all of our e-liquids to create a more realistic smoking sensation and a stronger throat hit. We also have a great range of nicotine-free vapes!

SMOKO E Cigarettes are helping adult smokers to successfully quit tobacco

IS VAPING SAFER THAN SMOKING

All the recent research does suggest that vaping is much safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. There are very few side effect of vaping you should be aware of the symptoms of vaping too much and how to control the amount of nicotine you consume.

But without the 4,000 chemicals, tar and 2nd hand smoke found with traditional tobacco, vaping is by far a better choice for a healthier lifesytle.

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VAPING IS UP TO 80% CHEAPER THAN SMOKING

In this financial crisis, smoking cigarettes is becoming unaffordable for most families. However, there is a misconception that vaping is expensive.

But vaping cheaper than smoking by up to 80%. A pack-a-day smoker could expect to save £10 a day compared to traditional tobacco.

So if you ready to save a fortune, it's time to switch to an affordable vape or e-cigarette today!