Smoking, Vaping, and Your Blood Vessels: What the Science Shows
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This review pulls together strong evidence that both smoking and next-generation nicotine products harm the inner lining of your blood vessels, called the endothelium. The damage shows up as more oxidative stress, less nitric oxide, more inflammation, and stickier white blood cells. Vapes and heat-not-burn devices may reduce some toxins, but they still impair endothelial function, especially with repeated use. The clearest heart-healthy move is to quit nicotine completely. If you cannot quit today, use proven cessation tools and set a short timeline to taper off any device.