Vaping was originally brought onto the scene to help people slowly stop smoking.
But with their sleek designs, bright colors, and sweet flavors, it’s become a trend—one that’s even caught on with people who never smoked before.
Many of them now vape daily, often believing that vaping isn’t nearly as bad as lighting up a cigarette.
This study is the first of its kind to really examine how vaping stacks up against smoking when it comes to long-term health consequences.
The research is expected to wrap up next month, but Dr. Maxime Boidin has already shared some early insights from the study—and they’re pretty eye-opening.
So if you’ve got a vape in your hand right now, you might want to set it down for a moment…
The Study
This research is being carried out at the Institute of Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University. It involved participants aged between 18 and 45, all of whom had similar levels of physical fitness to keep things fair and balanced.
One of the main focuses of the study was blood health. Researchers checked how elastic the participants’ blood vessels were and how efficiently blood could travel to their brains.
To ensure accurate results, participants were asked to avoid vaping, smoking, or exercising for 12 hours before testing. They also only drank water during that time.
FMD is a method that uses ultrasound technology to see how well blood vessels respond to blood flow by measuring how the arteries behave.
It’s a way to check the health of the artery linings.
The Results
The study found that the people who smoked or vaped had very similar results when tested, which is quite alarming.
When researchers looked at the FMD results, they saw what’s called a “flat reading.” That kind of result suggests damage to the walls of the arteries.
Blood flow tests also showed something troubling. Both groups—smokers and vapers—had equally poor blood circulation.
She also pointed out that vapes have additional substances, including certain metals and chemicals like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine.
Some of the flavoring agents used in vapes can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. That kind of stress can be harmful to the inner walls of your arteries over time.
Risks
Mayo Clinic explains: “Once the inner wall of an artery is damaged, blood cells and other substances may collect at the injury site. These substances build up in the inner lining of the artery.”
“Over time, fats, cholesterol and other substances also collect on and in the walls of the heart arteries. This buildup is called plaque. Plaque can cause the arteries to narrow. Narrowed arteries can block blood flow. The plaque also can burst, leading to a blood clot.”
Dr. Boidin also warned that poor blood circulation could raise the chances of developing cognitive issues, including dementia. And according to the study’s early findings, vaping may also hurt the fitness levels of younger users.
She pointed out that smokers usually “go outside and smoke” and then have to make the decision to “light up another to keep going.” On the other hand, vapers can just keep puffing without giving it much thought, especially since it’s easier to do indoors. She said she expects many people to be “horrified” once they “know the truth.”
So where do we go from here?
What Next?
Well, according to Dr. Boidin, vapes should only be used as a tool to “help people quit smoking” and just for “a certain time.” She believes they should be seen as a “transition tool” and only available through a prescription from a healthcare provider.
However, Dr. Marina Murphy, a scientific spokesperson for the UK Vaping Industry Association, pushed back against the findings. She pointed out that “millions” have been using vaping products “safely” for “many years” and cited other research that suggests “vapes are unlikely to exceed 5 percent of the health risks associated with cigarettes.”