New research suggests vaping may reverse the effects of smoking in people with COPD

A study published at the end of last month in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, suggests that vaping may reverse some of the harmful effects of smoking in patients with COPD.

The study involved 44 COPD patients. Half of the participants had either significantly reduced smoking with the use of E-Cigarettes or stopped completely, and the other 22 people had smoked tobacco without the use of E-Cigarettes.

The findings of the study showed that COPD patients that used E-Cigarettes to stop smoking revealed many positive effects over 3 years which included:

- A 91% reduction of daily cigarette use (from an average of 21.9 cigarettes per day to an average of 2 cigarettes per day.

- A reduction of COPD related symptoms and respiratory infections

- Improved overall health and physical activity

- A small relapse rate of going back to conventional smoking of only 8.3%

Even dual users (individuals who continued to smoke whilst using e-cigarettes) still managed to show positive results of reducing their daily smoking intake by at least 75% and showed signs of improved respiratory health.

The authors of the study state that “Quitting smoking is a key strategy not only to prevent the onset of COPD but also to stop its progression to more severe disease stages. Given that many COPD patients continue smoking despite their symptoms, the electronic cigarette could be an effective and safe alternative to the tobacco cigarettes also in this vulnerable population.”