Mixing vaping and smoking is no better for your health than just only smoking, according to a study.
The conclusion was based on findings in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, which took place from 2013 to 2019.
Researchers evaluated the opinions of 24,000 men and women and lead researcher Jonathan Berlowitz claims that mixing the two are a bad idea.
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The Boston University medical student said: "Our results suggest that combining smoking with e-cigarette use does not reduce cardiovascular events and that quitting both products is required to ensure a mitigation of risk.
"The cardiovascular risk of dual use did not differ from the risk among those exclusively smoking cigarettes.
"There are different reasons for the dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes."
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There is a belief that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes, however, the lead researcher wasn't willing to conclude that was the case.
The researchers found that those who smoked cigarettes and e-cigarettes had no significant differences in risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack, heart failure or stroke.
In the study, there were more than 1,480 cases of cardiovascular disease and more than 500 cases of heart attack, heart failure or stroke.
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Berlowitz added: "Many adults use e-cigarettes to help them reduce their cigarette use, which they hope would be a health benefit.
"Others may use e-cigarettes to consume nicotine in locations where cigarettes are prohibited.
"There is also evidence that e-cigarettes can play a gateway effect in youth leading to the later initiation of cigarettes as well.
"Complete cigarette cessation remains vital to reducing cardiovascular risk, regardless of e-cigarette use."
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The study was published Friday in the journal Circulation and Dr. David Hill, a spokesman for the American Lung Association and an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Yale University, claims that 'their conclusions are pretty spot on'.
"They couldn't find any evidence that using e-cigarettes was protective.
"Using e-cigarettes and continuing to smoke cigarettes is not healthy.
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"What the data is really saying is that the majority of people who use tobacco products are, unfortunately, not stopping smoking, but continuing to use both. It's a frustrating thing.
"The concept of them being a tobacco cessation product is more marketing than science-based.
"There is no safe tobacco product, including e-cigarettes.
"These are addictive and have the potential to cause harm. If you're looking to stop smoking, there are much better methods available to help people quit."
Topics: Health
Anish Vij