The use of e-cigarettes has increased in several countries, with more people taking up vaping, according to The Sun.
At the same time, several countries are introducing new rules on packaging, colors, and flavor options to make these products less appealing, particularly to people who do not smoke.
Although e-cigarettes are generally considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes, researchers still do not know enough about their long-term effects.
Researchers tested participants
A study conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University and published in ERJ Open Research, as cited by The Sun, examined 75 people aged 30 or younger.
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The participants were divided into three groups: smokers, e-cigarette users, and people who neither smoked nor vaped.
They completed a cycling test on a stationary bike while researchers measured, among other things, oxygen uptake, blood samples, and blood vessel function.
According to the study, both smokers and e-cigarette users became short of breath more quickly than participants with no nicotine habits.
The difference was significant
The researchers also found evidence that the blood vessels of e-cigarette users functioned less effectively.
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This may make it more difficult for the body to transport oxygen during physical activity, potentially leading to earlier fatigue.
People who used e-cigarettes had around 15 percent lower physical capacity than those who neither smoked nor vaped.
According to the researchers, vaping may therefore affect the lungs and cardiovascular system in a way that resembles the effects of tobacco smoking.
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