Young people who vape perform as badly as smokers in exercise testing, according to a new study.
Non-vapers did far better than both vapers and cigarette smokers in a series of tests designed to measure their capacity for exercise, say scientists.
The findings add to growing evidence that long-term use of electronic cigarettes – known as vapes – is harmful, and challenges the idea that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking.
Study leader Dr. Azmy Faisal said: “Previous research has shown that vaping is linked to lung inflammation and damage, and harmful changes to the blood vessels.
“Although some research suggests that vaping could be used to cut back or quit smoking, we don’t yet know what longer-term vaping use does to our bodies.”
The study involved 60 people in their 20s who all had normal lung function, according to spirometry testing.
Of the participants, 20 were non-smokers and non-vapers, 20 had been vaping for at least two years and 20 had been smoking for at least two years.
Each person took part in an incremental test on an exercise bike.
Dr. Faisal said the static bike is the “gold-standard” for testing physical ability and how well a person copes with exercise – looking at their heart, lungs, and muscles’ responses at harder and harder levels until they reach their maximum.
The participants also underwent blood tests and an ultrasound scan to analyze how well their arteries were functioning.
On average, the vapers had a lower ‘peak exercise capacity’ (186 watts) than the group who did not vape or smoke (226 watts), but similar capacity to the group of smokers (182 watts).
Peak exercise capacity is a measure of the maximum amount of physical exertion that a person can achieve.
At peak exercise, vapers and smokers were also less able to consume oxygen on average compared to the non-smoking non-vaping groups.
The blood tests and ultrasound scans revealed that both vapers and smokers showed signs that their blood vessels were not working as well as the non-smoking and non-vaping group,
The smokers and the vapers were more out of breath, experienced intense leg fatigue and had higher levels of lactate in their blood – a sign of muscle fatigue, even before they reached their maximum level of exercise.
Dr. Faisal, senior lecturer in cardiorespiratory physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “In this study, we looked at a group of young people with no apparent signs of lung damage.
“Among the people who had been vaping or smoking for at least two years, we saw important differences in how well they coped with exercise.”
He added: “The smokers and the vapers had measurably excess breathing while using the exercise bikes.
“They found it harder to breathe, their muscles became more fatigued, and they were less fit overall.
“In this regard, our research indicated that vaping is no better than smoking.”
The findings were presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria.
Dr. Filippos Filippidis is Chair of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee, says people who vape should be made aware of the health implications of the habit.
Dr. Filippidis, a reader in public health at Imperial College London, said: “Vapes are being sold cheaply and in a variety of flavors to appeal to young people.
“As a result, we’re seeing more and more young people take up the habit without knowing what the long-term consequences could be to their health.
“Although it’s always a challenge to know if the associations we find in these studies are causal or a result of some other systematic differences between groups, people who vape need to be aware that using these products could make them less fit and able to take part in exercise.”
He added: “Doctors and policymakers also need to know about the risks of vaping, and we should be doing all we can to support children and young people to avoid or quit vaping.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
