Vaping, often promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, may significantly impair fitness levels and lung function similarly to traditional cigarettes, according to a new study. The research, conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University, found that healthy young adults who regularly use e-cigarettes experienced breathlessness during exercise and had lower overall fitness levels comparable to those who smoke.
Healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 participated in the study, divided into three groups: 25 who vaped, 25 who smoked cigarettes, and 25 who had never used either substance. Participants in the vaping and smoking groups had used their respective products for at least 18 months. All volunteers had no pre-existing heart or lung conditions and normal lung function prior to the study. Lifestyle factors, including physical activity and alcohol intake, were similar across all groups.
Exercise Performance and Health Metrics
Upon completion of the study period, participants underwent a cycling fitness test that gradually increased in difficulty. Researchers monitored breathing, heart function, oxygen utilization, blood lactate levels, and perceived breathlessness. The results showed that vapers and smokers performed nearly identically on most tests when compared to non-smokers and non-vapers.
Specifically, vapers showed a 42% decrease in blood vessel function, while smokers showed a 44% decrease, indicating compromised blood flow during exercise. Both vaping and smoking groups exhibited fitness levels approximately 15% lower than the control group, as measured by oxygen consumption. They also reported tiring sooner and experiencing breathlessness more rapidly during the exercise test.
Dr. Azmy Faisal, the study's lead author, stated that the research suggests vaping can lead to detrimental changes in blood vessels and lung efficiency during exercise, resulting in about a 15% reduction in fitness compared to individuals who have never used nicotine products. The findings suggest that the increasing normalization of vaping could introduce significant health risks.
This study follows previous research, including a study published last month by South Korean scientists, which found that switching from traditional cigarettes to vapes may not substantially reduce the risk of lung cancer. That study indicated that individuals who switched to vaping were more likely to develop or die from the disease compared to ex-smokers who quit entirely.
In Britain, the number of people who vape has surpassed the number of cigarette smokers. While cigarettes produce thousands of chemicals through tobacco combustion, vapes heat a nicotine-containing liquid into an aerosol. Although NHS guidance states vaping is less harmful than smoking, it also acknowledges that it is not entirely harmless and long-term effects remain unknown.
Concerns about the rising popularity of e-cigarettes have led to policy changes in the UK, including a ban on disposable vapes implemented last June and the recent Tobacco and Vapes Act, which prohibits sales to individuals under 18. Polling suggests that nearly one in five children aged 11 to 17 in Britain has tried vaping.
The research team plans to conduct MRI scans to further investigate how vaping affects the heart, lungs, and muscles, and how these changes impact overall fitness.