<
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/sep/08/vaping-damages-young-peoples-lungs-as-much-as-smoking-study-suggests>
"Vaping damages young people’s lungs as much as smoking, according to research
that has prompted fresh debate over the health risks of e-cigarettes.
The study compared vapers and smokers in a strenuous exercise test and found
both groups emerged as being less fit and much more out of breath than people
who have neither habit.
Dr Azmy Faisal and colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University asked 60
people in their 20s to have their lung capacity recorded by spending time on a
static exercise bike. Twenty were non-smokers, 20 others had vaped for at least
two years and the other 20 had smoked for at least two years.
The vapers had an average “peak exercise capacity”, which, at 186 watts, was
similar to that of the smokers (182 watts) but much lower than that among the
non-smokers or vapers (226 watts). The test measures the maximum amount of
physical exercise that someone can achieve.
In addition, the vapers and smokers were less able to take in oxygen – at 2.7
litres and 2.6 litres a minute, respectively – than those who neither smoked
nor vaped (3 litres).
“The study adds to growing evidence that long-term use of vaping is harmful and
challenges the idea that vaping could be a healthier alternative to smoking”,
said Faisal and his co-authors of the study, which they presented on Sunday at
the European Respiratory Society’s (ERS) conference in Vienna.
“Both vapers and smokers showed signs that their blood vessels were not working
as well as the non-smoking and non-vaping group, according to the blood tests
and ultrasound scans.
“The smokers and the vapers were more out of breath, experienced intense leg
fatigue and had higher levels of lactate in their blood, a sign of muscle
fatigue, even before they reached their maximum level of exercise.”
The proportion of adults in Britain using vapes has climbed steadily over
recent years, from 4.2% in 2014 to 11%, with many smokers using them as a way
of kicking that habit. But the proportion of 11 to 17-year-olds vaping has
risen much more sharply over the same period, from 1.3% to 7.6%.
Medical researchers have found evidence that vaping increases the risk of
cancer, because it changes their DNA, and also that it may damage the brain and
vital organs because e-cigarette aerosols and liquids can contain traces of
toxic metals such as lead and uranium."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
