The study, published in the journal ERJ Open Research, showed that young people who use e-cigarettes or smoke traditional cigarettes suffer from reduced vascular function, respiratory efficiency, and physical exertion capacity, compared to those who have never smoked or used e-cigarettes.
The study's lead researcher, Dr. Azmi Faisal from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, said the research findings showed that e-cigarette use, like tobacco smoking, leads to a decrease in the ability to exercise among healthy young people, along with an increased feeling of shortness of breath and leg fatigue during exertion.
He added that the study indicates that the use of e-cigarettes may cause harmful changes in blood vessels and affect lung efficiency during exercise, explaining that the level of physical fitness among e-cigarette users and smokers was about 15% lower compared to non-smokers.
The study included 75 young men and women aged 18 to 30, divided equally into three groups: one group had never used e-cigarettes or tobacco, another consisted solely of traditional cigarette smokers, and the third comprised e-cigarette users who had been using them exclusively for approximately three years. All participants had normal lung function and followed similar lifestyle patterns in terms of physical activity and caffeine and alcohol consumption.
The participants underwent a progressive stress test on a stationary bike until they reached their maximum physical capacity, with measurements of heart and respiratory response, in addition to ultrasound scans and blood tests to assess arterial health.
The results showed that smokers and e-cigarette users experienced a 15% decrease in endurance and oxygen consumption during peak physical exertion. Their lungs also became less efficient at clearing carbon dioxide, and lactic acid accumulated more rapidly, leading to increased shortness of breath and leg fatigue compared to participants who did not smoke or use e-cigarettes. (Lactic acid is a substance produced by the body when muscles burn glucose for energy in conditions where oxygen is scarce, such as during strenuous exercise.)
The tests also revealed signs of vasculitis in both groups, which the researchers considered evidence that e-cigarettes and traditional smoking leave similar effects on the body, even in young people who do not suffer from apparent diseases.
Dr. Faisal emphasized that these findings provide important information for the public, healthcare providers, and regulatory bodies regarding the potential early health risks of e-cigarette use, especially given its increasing popularity among young people who have never smoked before.
The research team plans to conduct studies using magnetic resonance imaging to understand the changes that occur in the heart, lungs, and muscles as a result of e-cigarette use, and to uncover the underlying causes of decreased physical fitness.
