Vaping may seem like a safer alternative to smoking, but new research suggests it carries similar fitness penalties for young adults. A study published in ERJ Open Research found that healthy young adults aged 18 to 30 who vape or smoke cigarettes have significantly poorer cardiovascular function and exercise capacity compared to those who have never used either product.

What Does Vaping Actually Do to Your Body?

Researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University studied 75 participants divided into three equal groups: people who had never smoked or vaped, cigarette smokers who had never vaped, and exclusive vapers who had been using e-cigarettes for about three years. During an intensive cycling test, researchers measured heart function, breathing efficiency, oxygen use, blood lactate levels, and blood vessel health using ultrasound scans and blood tests.

The results were striking. Both vaping and smoking groups performed significantly worse than non-users. At peak exercise, their oxygen uptake and exercise capacity were about 15% lower. They also had reduced ability to remove carbon dioxide from the lungs and accumulated lactic acid more quickly, causing earlier breathlessness and greater leg fatigue during exercise.

Blood tests and ultrasound scans revealed signs of blood vessel inflammation in both smokers and vapers, suggesting that vaping may affect the cardiovascular system in ways similar to traditional smoking. This finding challenges the common assumption that e-cigarettes are harmless because they contain fewer cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco.

Why Should Young Vapers Be Concerned?

The findings are particularly concerning because many young adults who vape have never smoked cigarettes. They may believe they are avoiding the health risks associated with traditional smoking, only to discover that vaping carries its own cardiovascular penalties. While e-cigarettes do contain fewer cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco, experts warn they can still trigger inflammation and genetic changes linked to long-term health problems.

The inflammation observed in vapers' blood vessels suggests that the nicotine and other chemicals in e-cigarettes may damage the delicate lining of blood vessels, reducing their ability to expand and contract properly during exercise. This impaired vascular function directly translates to reduced oxygen delivery to muscles and lower overall fitness performance.

How to Protect Your Cardiovascular Health

• Avoid Vaping and Smoking: Both products significantly reduce exercise capacity and blood vessel function, even in otherwise healthy young adults, so avoiding them entirely is the most effective protection.
• Monitor Your Exercise Performance: If you currently vape or smoke, pay attention to changes in your breathing, endurance, and how quickly you become fatigued during physical activity as potential warning signs.
• Seek Professional Support for Quitting: If you use e-cigarettes or cigarettes, talk to a healthcare provider about evidence-based cessation programs, medications, or counseling that can help you quit successfully.
• Engage in Regular Cardiovascular Exercise: For those who do not vape or smoke, maintaining consistent aerobic activity like cycling, running, or swimming helps preserve the blood vessel function and oxygen efficiency that vaping can damage.

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University are now planning MRI studies to better understand how vaping affects the heart, lungs, and muscles at a deeper level. Although larger studies are needed to confirm these findings across broader populations, the current evidence suggests that vaping is far from harmless and may significantly reduce physical fitness even in otherwise healthy young adults.

The takeaway is clear: if you are a young adult considering vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, or if you already vape, the cardiovascular costs may be higher than you think. The 15% reduction in exercise capacity observed in this study translates to real-world consequences, from reduced athletic performance to earlier fatigue during everyday activities like climbing stairs or playing sports.