VAPING can make you unfit by damaging the lungs like cigarettes, say scientists.

A study by Manchester Metropolitan University found e-cig users had 15 per cent lower exercise capacity than those who neither smoked or vaped.

Vaping is now more popular than smoking in the UK (stock image) Credit: Getty

Vapers and smokers were both found to get out of breath faster than normal (stock image) Credit: Getty

Vapes carry a lower cancer risk than tobacco but other potential dangers are still poorly understood.

Researchers put 75 adults aged 30 or under on exercise bikes and used scans and blood samples to test the difference between smokers, vapers and those with no nicotine habit.

Sign up for the Health newsletter

Thank you!

They were split into three equal groups and had otherwise similar lifestyles.

Participants pedalled at increasing intensity until they reached their maximum effort.

LAST DRAW
Major change to your favourite vape as flavours banned under new plans

SMOKE AND MIRRORS
How easy vape mistake could cost you £1,700 on your summer holiday

Results in the journal ERJ Open Research showed smokers and vapers conked out sooner and their blood oxygen uptake was 15 per cent lower.

Ultrasound scan results revealed signs of damage or swelling in vapers’ blood vessels, meaning they processed oxygen slower and got out of breath faster.

They also had faster lactic acid build-up so their legs hurt sooner.

Study author Dr Azmy Faisal said: “Both vapes and tobacco smoking led to worsened exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and intense leg fatigue.

“Our research indicates that, like smoking, vaping can lead to harmful changes to the blood vessels, lung efficiency during exercise and approximately a 15 per cent reduction in fitness compared to those who have never smoked or vaped.”

Vaping has become more popular than smoking in the UK, with 10 per cent of the population doing it compared to nine per cent who still smoke tobacco.

The Government is cracking down on e-cigarette advertising, colours and flavours in a bid to reduce their appeal to non-smokers.

Dr Stamatoula Tsikrika, from the European Respiratory Society, was not involved in the research but said: “Vapes may contain lower levels of cancer-causing substances but they can still trigger genetic changes such as DNA damage and inflammation, which are linked to increased lung cancer risk. 

“For people who have never smoked, the health consequences of vaping are becoming harder to justify.”

Smoking vs. vaping

VAPING has been touted as an effective tool to help people quit smoking.
Though vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, the habit isn’t completely harmless and comes with its own set of risks.
The NHS only recommends it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking.
GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye explained to The Jattvibe that the differences between vaping and smoking – and whether one is better than the other – is “complicated”.
“In a nutshell, vaping is better than smoking, but breathing air is better than vaping at all.”
Vaping exposes users to far fewer toxins – and at lower levels – than smoking cigarettes.
Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke.
These diseases are not caused by nicotine, which is relatively harmless to health. But research has still linked vaping to a higher risk of heart failure and lung disease.
Health risks of cigarettes

Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer
Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels 
Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs
Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body
It affects overall health too, such as your mouth, eyes, immune system and fertility

Health risks of vaping

They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick
They could lead to tooth decay
They could damage heart health
They could cause lung disease
They could slow brain development

Read more on how vaping can affect your health here.
Sources: NHS, CDC