Does vaping raise blood pressure?
Yes. The VapeScan Study found that young adults who vaped for a median of 4 years had systolic blood pressure 4.79 mmHg higher (95% CI: 1.83-7.75) and diastolic blood pressure 2.88 mmHg higher (95% CI: 0.54-5.21) than non-vapers. The effect was strongest in the vaping/never smoking group. The more puffs per day, the higher the blood pressure.
Is vaping bad for your heart?
The VapeScan Study found that long-term vaping is associated with higher blood pressure, a key cardiovascular risk factor. Vaping provided no risk reduction for hypertension compared to not vaping or smoking. However, the study measured early risk markers (subclinical), not clinical heart disease. No study has shown that vaping directly causes heart attacks or stroke in young adults. The findings suggest elevated cardiovascular risk over time, but long-term studies are needed.
How many puffs per day is dangerous for blood pressure?
The VapeScan Study found that vaping more than 100 puffs per day was associated with systolic blood pressure 4.84 mmHg higher (95% CI: 0.94-8.74) and diastolic 3.57 mmHg higher (95% CI: 0.74-6.41) compared to fewer than 36 puffs per day. The dose-response relationship was nonlinear, meaning blood pressure increased more steeply at higher puff counts. There is no established "safe" number of puffs per day.
Does vaping cause heart attacks?
No study has directly linked vaping to heart attacks in young adults. The VapeScan Study measured subclinical risk markers — blood pressure, endothelial function, and coronary artery calcification — not clinical cardiovascular events like heart attacks or stroke. The elevated blood pressure findings suggest increased long-term risk, but clinical events may take decades to develop. The study's median 4-year vaping exposure is too short to detect clinical outcomes.
Is vaping safer than smoking for your heart?
The VapeScan Study did not directly compare vaping to smoking for cardiovascular outcomes. However, it found that dual users (vaping plus smoking) did not show significantly higher blood pressure than the control group, and vaping alone provided no risk reduction compared to never vaping or smoking. The American Heart Association notes that the cardiovascular impact of e-cigarettes may be lower than combustible cigarettes, but the long-term effects remain unknown.
What is the VapeScan Study?
The VapeScan Study is a research study conducted by Columbia University researchers, published in JACC: Advances on September 1, 2026. It recruited 372 cardiovascular disease-free participants aged 18 to 49 in the New York City area between May 2021 and May 2024. The study measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure, endothelial function (Framingham reactive hyperemia index), and coronary artery calcification (spatially weighted CAC score).
Should I stop vaping if I have high blood pressure?
If you have high blood pressure, consult your healthcare provider about vaping. The VapeScan Study found that vaping is associated with higher blood pressure in young adults, particularly in those who vape more than 100 puffs per day. If you started vaping to quit smoking, discuss alternative cessation tools with your doctor. If you never smoked and started vaping for other reasons, the cardiovascular risk-benefit calculation is less favorable.
What did the VapeScan Study find about coronary calcification?
The VapeScan Study found an inverse association between vaping categories and spatially weighted coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores compared to never vaping or smoking. The researchers noted this finding requires further investigation and may reflect the younger age and shorter exposure duration of the vaping groups. Coronary calcification takes decades to develop, and the study's median 4-year vaping exposure may be insufficient to detect this outcome.
