In young people who use e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes, physical endurance, vascular function, and lung efficiency are reduced by approximately 15% compared to those who have never smoked. This is stated in a new study published in the scientific journal ERJ Open Research.
Scientists from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK studied 75 healthy young adults aged between 18 and 30. They were divided into three equal groups: non-smokers, traditional cigarette users, and those who had used only vapes (e-cigarettes) for about 3 years. All participants had normal lung function and lived similar lifestyles.
During specialized exercise tests, participants gradually increased their workload on a stationary exercise bike to their maximum capacity. The results showed that the bodies of both smokers and vape users absorbed 15% less oxygen during exertion. Additionally, their lungs struggled to fully expel carbon dioxide, and lactic acid (lactate) accumulated in their muscles much faster. This led to severe shortness of breath and rapid muscle fatigue in their legs compared to their healthy peers. Furthermore, ultrasound and blood tests revealed signs of inflammatory processes in their blood vessels.
According to the scientists, these results prove that e-cigarettes have exactly the same negative impact on the young organism as conventional tobacco.
Dr. Stamatoula Tsikrika, an expert from the European Respiratory Society, notes that although e-cigarettes contain fewer carcinogens than traditional tobacco, they still cause genetic changes, including DNA damage and inflammatory processes, which increase the risk of lung cancer. Specialists evaluate these findings as an important message for the public, supporting the new legislation enacted in the UK (Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026), which aims to prevent nicotine addiction among young people and tighten regulations.
