Research Reveals Positive Signals of Switching from Cigarettes to Blood Vessels Health

Illustration. (Photo: Dok. Antara)

JAKARTA - Lifestyle changes are not only about diet and exercise, but also how a person changes other bad habits such as smoking. As awareness of health increases, some adult smokers are beginning to seek a more realistic approach to gradually quitting smoking, one of which is through the use of alternative tobacco products.

A recent study published by CoEHAR in February 2026 provides a new perspective on the positive impact of switching to alternative tobacco products. The study entitled Vascular health after quitting smoking or switching to e-cigarette use: a systematic review of prospective studies with GRADE assessment published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology examined 23 clinical studies involving 11,702 participants to understand what happens to vascular health after switching from smoking habits using electronic cigarettes.

CoEHAR researcher, Prof. Riccardo Polosa, explained, in everyday life, many people only realize the importance of heart health when serious symptoms appear. In fact, the process of damage and recovery actually occurs much earlier in the blood vessels.

"We often focus on long-term outcomes such as heart attacks or strokes, but the recovery process begins much earlier in the blood vessels," said Polosa, who is a professor and internal medicine doctor, quoted Friday, May 8.

Exposure to chemical substances from the combustion process in cigarettes is known to be related to changes in blood vessels, such as reduced arterial elasticity and impaired function of the inner layer of blood vessels (endothelium). These conditions make blood vessels lose their ability to expand optimally, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term.

Interestingly, this systematic review shows that quitting smoking or switching completely from burning cigarettes to electric cigarettes or vaping is associated with initial improvements in vascular health indicators relevant to the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Although current scientific evidence is still limited, the direction of this research finding is consistent with the understanding that reducing exposure to harmful substances from tobacco combustion plays an important role in reducing the risk of diseases related to smoking habits.

Prof. Riccardo Polosa added, when exposure from the combustion process is stopped, blood vessel function begins to show measurable improvements.

"When the burning stops, blood vessel function begins to improve. These measurable changes show that eliminating exposure to smoke has immediate biological benefits," he explained.

So, according to him, it is important for smokers to stop consuming burned cigarettes. If you can't, it's better to use alternative tobacco products.

Another interesting finding is that the improvement in vascular function occurs both in the use of products containing nicotine and without nicotine. This indicates that the main factor that triggers vascular damage is not nicotine, but toxic substances produced from the combustion process.

On the other hand, the phenomenon of switching from smoking habits is also increasingly visible in people's lives. Chairman of the Indonesian Vape Consumer Association (AKVINDO) Paido Siahaan, assessed that this trend reflects the change in the way adult smokers view their habits.

"I see a trend of adult smokers who are starting to switch to alternative tobacco products as a significant development in the approach to controlling cigarette consumption," he said.

According to Paido, not all smokers can immediately abandon the habit, so a gradual approach is a more realistic option. Alternative tobacco products, he said, are often used as a bridge in the transition process as an effort to reduce risks.

However, he emphasized that the success of the transition process is not only determined by the products used. Individual consistency in changing routines and behaviors is a very important factor, including in recognizing triggers such as stress or social environments.

"Many smokers fail not because the product is not effective, but because the routine and behavioral patterns do not change," he said.

Paido also suggested a simpler approach that is easier to live with, for example by starting to replace one smoking moment in the daily routine with alternative tobacco products.

"This small but consistent approach is often more effective and sustainable than drastic changes that are difficult to maintain," he concluded.