New study uncovers worrying link between e-cigarettes and ex smokers who use them as quitting method

Many smokers have turned to e-cigarettes in an attempt to quit the habit, yet a new study has revealed that this transition could actually leave you with an increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Most people are aware these days of the damaging health effects that smoking cigarettes can cause, and it has prompted millions across the world to attempt to quit the habit.

As an addictive substance it's understandably challenging to just give it up, and while some people are able to go cold turkey, many others turn to alternative forms that can help wean them off cigarettes.

These can include nicotine patches or gum, and even prescription medication, but the rise in e-cigarettes and vapes have made them the go-to choice as they 'recreate' the habit without many of the health complications — or at least that's what seems to be the case.

However, new research has emerged that could make you think twice about switching from regular cigarettes to an electronic alternative, as while quitting smoking is definitely something you should do, opting for this particular route comes with a hefty risk.

You might want to reconsider swapping cigarettes for an electronic alternative (Getty Stock)

A new study published in the BMC Public Health journal has revealed that smokers who switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes put themselves at a far higher risk of myocardial infarction (MI), otherwise known as a heart attack.

The study itself was conducted over a 20-year period between 2005 and 2025, measuring over a million different people in some estimates to come to a conclusion that could have significant ramifications.

Outlining the results, the study concludes that "the use of e-cigarettes may be linked with a higher risk of myocardial infarction as well as stroke, even after adjusting for cigarette smoking as a confounder or in those who were former conventional cigarette smokers."

E-cigarette users who were previously smokers have a far higher risk of heart attacks and strokes (Getty Stock)

It illustrates that "quantitative synthesis showed that e-cigarette users had a 1.53-times higher risk of MI than the non-e-cigarette users," adding that "the risk of MI was higher among current e-cigarette users who were former cigarette smokers than never-e-cigarette users."

Additionally, there's also a 1.73 times higher risk of stroke for those e-cigarette users who were previously smokers, culminating in a frightening set of results that should have you second guessing how you decide to quit.

This arrives among a growing general concern regarding e-cigarettes and vapes, as many have shared their stories across social media where their horrible symptoms disappear almost immediately after quitting the habit.

Additionally, medical experts have issued warnings regarding the long-term damage that vaping can cause to your lungs, and this is especially the case when it comes to young people.