Oh boy, they’re keeping us busy today! This article from the North Kentucky Tribune featuring cardiologist Damodhar Suresh from St. Elizabeth Healthcare is a doozy. There's so much WRONG to unpack here, but here are some highlights.
"vaping (using e-cigarettes) is actually no safer than smoking."
WRONG.
The FDA has authorized several e-cigarette products that met the threshold of being “appropriate for the protection of the public health” and “provided a benefit for adults who smoke cigarettes…that is sufficient to outweigh the risks of the product...”
That means vaping those products IS scientifically proven to be SAFER than smoking.
See: FDA Authorizes Marketing of Four Menthol-Flavored E-Cigarette Products After Extensive Scientific Review
"Unlike cigarette smoke, e-cigarette vapor absorbs directly into the bloodstream."
WRONG.
Studies show that, unlike cigarette smoke, non-salt e-cigarette vapor is mostly absorbed in the mouth/upper respiratory tract, where it moves into the bloodstream more slowly than cigarette smoke.
E-cigarette "salt" formulas can absorb directly from the lungs into the bloodstream (but without the deadly combustion, of course.) The few studies that compared smoking to vaping found that, while vaping nicotine salts in high doses may be a close second, smoking was still the most efficient for delivering nicotine to the brain.
See: A randomised, open-label, cross-over clinical study to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of cigarettes and e-cigarettes with nicotine salt formulations in US adult smokers
“Nicotine is the most powerful vasoconstricting agent ever studied,” says St. Elizabeth Healthcare cardiologist Damodhar Suresh, MD. “That means, each time you vape, your arteries get smaller and smaller to the point where they are so diseased, you’re going to have a heart attack or stroke.”
WRONG.
This is a ridiculous claim. This isn't even true with smoking. If it was true about vaping, then nicotine gums, patches and lozenges wouldn’t be touted as “safe and effective.” The effect of nicotine on arteries has mostly been studied with SMOKING, which exposes the user to far more than just nicotine, such as carbon monoxide. Studies of nicotine use without smoking (ie. NRT, snus) haven’t found increased risk of heart disease.
See: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)63097-8/fulltext
According to the American College of Cardiology, "if you vape, you’re 56% more likely to have a heart attack and 30% more likely to have a stroke."
WRONG.
This has been debunked. Researchers admitted that the limitations of their study included that the “study design doesn’t allow researchers to establish causation” and that they were “unable to determine whether these outcomes may have occurred prior to using e-cigarettes.” Meaning, the reported heart attacks and strokes could have happened BEFORE the subjects even started vaping.
SIDE NOTE
This same source debunks the claim that vaping is no safer than smoking:
"Cigarette smoking carries a much higher probability of heart attack and stroke than e-cigarettes..."
These reporters need to do better!
READ ARTICLE:
nkytribune.com
"vaping (using e-cigarettes) is actually no safer than smoking."
WRONG.
The FDA has authorized several e-cigarette products that met the threshold of being “appropriate for the protection of the public health” and “provided a benefit for adults who smoke cigarettes…that is sufficient to outweigh the risks of the product...”
That means vaping those products IS scientifically proven to be SAFER than smoking.
See: FDA Authorizes Marketing of Four Menthol-Flavored E-Cigarette Products After Extensive Scientific Review
"Unlike cigarette smoke, e-cigarette vapor absorbs directly into the bloodstream."
WRONG.
Studies show that, unlike cigarette smoke, non-salt e-cigarette vapor is mostly absorbed in the mouth/upper respiratory tract, where it moves into the bloodstream more slowly than cigarette smoke.
E-cigarette "salt" formulas can absorb directly from the lungs into the bloodstream (but without the deadly combustion, of course.) The few studies that compared smoking to vaping found that, while vaping nicotine salts in high doses may be a close second, smoking was still the most efficient for delivering nicotine to the brain.
See: A randomised, open-label, cross-over clinical study to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of cigarettes and e-cigarettes with nicotine salt formulations in US adult smokers
“Nicotine is the most powerful vasoconstricting agent ever studied,” says St. Elizabeth Healthcare cardiologist Damodhar Suresh, MD. “That means, each time you vape, your arteries get smaller and smaller to the point where they are so diseased, you’re going to have a heart attack or stroke.”
WRONG.
This is a ridiculous claim. This isn't even true with smoking. If it was true about vaping, then nicotine gums, patches and lozenges wouldn’t be touted as “safe and effective.” The effect of nicotine on arteries has mostly been studied with SMOKING, which exposes the user to far more than just nicotine, such as carbon monoxide. Studies of nicotine use without smoking (ie. NRT, snus) haven’t found increased risk of heart disease.
See: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)63097-8/fulltext
According to the American College of Cardiology, "if you vape, you’re 56% more likely to have a heart attack and 30% more likely to have a stroke."
WRONG.
This has been debunked. Researchers admitted that the limitations of their study included that the “study design doesn’t allow researchers to establish causation” and that they were “unable to determine whether these outcomes may have occurred prior to using e-cigarettes.” Meaning, the reported heart attacks and strokes could have happened BEFORE the subjects even started vaping.
SIDE NOTE
This same source debunks the claim that vaping is no safer than smoking:
"Cigarette smoking carries a much higher probability of heart attack and stroke than e-cigarettes..."
These reporters need to do better!
READ ARTICLE:
St. Elizabeth Healthy Headlines: Vaping IS smoking - and is a public health emergency - NKyTribune
Vaping (using e-cigarettes) is actually no safer than smoking. It’s a public health emergency that affects more than your lungs. Vaping also significantly increases your risk for heart and vascular disease. So, if you’re vaping, it’s time to ditch e-cigarettes. Here’s what you need to know. What...
nkytribune.com
