More vaping myths and risks
Vapers cite all kinds of reasons for smoking electronic devices -- they want to quit smoking cigarettes or cut down on them, or they just think it's cool -- and less harmful than cigarettes. That's not so; vaping delivers cancer-causing chemicals, toxic heavy metals, and lung-damaging flavorings and particulates that stimulate body-wide inflammation. Plus, somewhere around 25% of vapers end up smoking cigarettes and vaping -- double-users, double trouble.
A new study in JAMA Network Open shows that despite the claims, vaping does not help you quit smoking cigarettes. In fact, when the researchers looked at data on more than 6,000 smokers, they found that smoking cessation was more than 4% lower among those who also vaped daily than among those who were trying to quit without vaping. Folks who smoked and vaped -- but not daily -- were 5% less likely to quit. Clearly, vaping makes it harder, not easier, to give up cigarettes.
Need more reasons to give up vaping -- along with cigarettes? Vaping damages your blood vessels and daily vaping nearly doubles your risk of a heart attack. Double-users are at even more risk.
Bottom line: If you're trying to give up cigarettes, don't depend on vaping to help you. For techniques that work, check out "Learn about Quit Smoking Medicines" at CDC.gov and all the information available at smokefree.gov. And for the support and information you need to inspire you to live younger longer, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPalybook.com and tune into "4 Natural Ways to Boost Lung Health" at iHerb.com/blog.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2025 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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