Cardiologist warns smoking and vaping raise heart risks—and quitting helps fast

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Heart disease remains a leading health concern, and one of the biggest preventable drivers is still tobacco use. On Welcome to Our Community, we spoke with Dr. Roy Flood, a cardiologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, about how smoking—and vaping—can affect the heart and blood vessels, and what warning signs people should never ignore.

Smoking and the heart: “A huge risk factor”

Dr. Flood said smoking is closely linked to heart attacks, strokes, cancers, and peripheral vascular disease—which can seriously impact circulation to the legs.

“If you like your legs, you may want to think about smoking cessation,” he said, pointing out that poor blood flow can lead to painful walking and worsening vascular problems.

In his experience, smoking shows up again and again in emergencies.

“At least half the patients that I see in emergent situations that are having a heart attack…are smokers,” Flood said.

Even after treatment, continuing to smoke remains one of the biggest reasons patients end up back in the hospital.

Quitting works—and risk starts dropping

The good news: stopping tobacco use can help reduce heart risk over time.

“From a cardiac perspective, if you stop smoking, you will start to get closer to the risk of the non-smoker over time,” Flood said.

He emphasized the goal is to quit before permanent damage is done.

Help is out there: what works best

Smoking cessation programs are generally available, Flood said, but the key barrier is often whether someone is ready to take the step.

He noted the most effective approach tends to combine:

• Behavior change support (coaching/classes)
• Medical treatment such as nicotine replacement or other medications

When people commit to the process, he said, outcomes improve significantly.

Warning signs smokers shouldn’t ignore

Flood highlighted a symptom many people may not associate with smoking-related vascular disease:

• Leg pain with walking, especially pain in the back of the calves after a short distance. This can be claudication, a sign of circulation problems often seen in smokers, and especially in smokers with diabetes.

He also warned that chest discomfort—sometimes mistaken for indigestion—can be heart-related and should be taken seriously.

Vaping is “not a free ride”

As vaping continues to grow in popularity, Flood pushed back on the idea that it’s a safe alternative.

He said vaping may deliver lower nicotine doses in some cases, but it is still associated with cardiovascular risks, including higher clot formation risk and harmful effects seen with nicotine use.

He added that some vaping solutions may also cause inflammation in the lungs.

“Vaping is not a free ride by any way, means or form at all,” he said.