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Vaping has long been seen as potentially hazardous for your health and a new study found that even young, healthy individuals who use vapes and e-cigarettes are putting themselves in harm’s way.
Researchers from the Manchester Metropolitan University found that young people who vape have worse blood vessel functionality, breathing efficiency and ability to exercise when compared to people who have never smoked or vaped.
‘Like smoking’
In a study that examined participants aged 18 to 30, the researchers drew data from three cohorts: One which had never smoked or vaped, one which smoked but didn’t vape, and one that vaped but didn’t smoke.
The participants all had similar habits around drinking alcohol and caffeine.
Dr. Azmy Faisal, the lead author of the study, said that the findings showed a 15-percent reduction in athletic ability and fitness.
“In active, healthy young adults with normal lungs, both vapes and tobacco smoking led to worsened exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and intense leg fatigue,” Faisal said in a release.
“Like smoking, our research indicates that vaping can lead to harmful changes to the blood vessels, lung efficiency during exercise and approximately a 15-percent reduction in fitness compared to those who have never smoked or vaped.”
The Trial
The participants took part in a cycling test with varying degrees of difficulty while having their lungs and heart measured, while ultrasound scans measured their arteries.
The results showed that both the vaping and smoking groups had significantly worse performances in both their ability to exercise and their oxygen intake, by roughly the same amount.
Smokers and vapers both struggled to blow carbon dioxide out, and both groups experienced quicker build ups of lactic acid, which made them more breathless and sore compared to the group that never smoked or vaped.
The ultrasound scans, meanwhile, showed increased levels of inflammation.
‘Critical’ Warnings
Vaping has been shown to be less carcinogenic than smoking, which could be misinterpreted as safety.
However, the findings clarified that vaping is not safe and can cause real damage to an individual’s fitness, as well as DNA damage and inflammation.
Faisal called the information “critical” for the public, especially for young people who aren’t smokers, but would consider vaping.
“Additionally, our study supports the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which prohibits vaping for individuals under 18 and aims to reduce vaping among young adults in the future,” Faisal said.
Newsweek has reached out to the study authors for comment via email.
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