How does vaping affect lung capacity?

Vaping is a relatively new and increasingly popular practice around the world and is positioned as a healthier alternative to traditional smoking , but how does vaping actually affect lung capacity?

Before tackling the question of how vaping affects lung capacity, it's important to understand what vaping is . Vaping involves inhaling an aerosol generated by an electronic device, commonly known as an electronic cigarette or vape, that heats liquids containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Liquids are heated to a sufficient temperature to produce a vapor that is then inhaled.

In general, vaping is considered less harmful than traditional cigarette smoking ( 95% safer than tobacco according to the UK Health Service), as cigarette smoke contains a large amount of toxic chemicals that are have been linked to a variety of health problems, including lung cancer and heart disease. However, that does not mean that vaping is completely safe. We must be clear that vaping is a form of harm reduction for smokers. Therefore, as always, we insist that if you do not smoke we do not recommend vaping.

Vaping and Lung Capacity Studies:

Here are some studies that suggest vaping does not have a significant effect on lung capacity:

• A study published in the journal Respiratory Research in 2017 found that vaping users and non-users had similar lung function after 3 years of follow-up. The study included 128 participants who had never smoked traditional cigarettes and who started vaping during the study.

• A study published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research in 2019 found that vaping users and non-users had similar lung capacity after 1 year of follow-up. The study included 215 participants who had never smoked traditional cigarettes and who started vaping during the study.

• A study published in the journal PLoS One in 2020 found that vaping users and non-users had similar lung function after 1 year of follow-up. The study included 289 participants who had never smoked traditional cigarettes and who started vaping during the study.

Advantages of using electronic cigarettes compared to traditional tobacco:

Some advantages of using vaping or vaporizers compared to traditional tobacco are the following:

1. Less Harmful Than Traditional Cigarettes: Unlike traditional cigarettes, which contain more than 7,000 toxic chemicals, including 70 known to cause cancer, e-cigarettes contain fewer chemicals and, in some cases, may not contain tobacco. While vaping isn't completely safe, some argue that it may be a less harmful alternative to smoking.

2. Help to quit smoking : E-cigarettes can be useful for people who want to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. Some studies have found that vaping is more effective at quitting smoking than other methods, such as nicotine patches or gum.

3. Less Secondhand Smoke – Unlike traditional cigarette smoke, which is toxic and can have negative health effects on those around you, the vapor from e-cigarettes can be less harmful to others.

4. Variety of Flavors – E-cigarettes offer a wide variety of flavors, which may appeal to people looking for a more personalized smoking experience. While this may be a draw to some, it has also been criticized for attracting young people to try vaping.