Scientists have discovered another negative consequence of vaping.

Smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes, even without nicotine, has an immediate effect on vascular function.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania (USA) discovered it, reports EurekAlert.

So, although vaping exposes users to fewer toxic chemicals than cigarettes, it can still be harmful to vascular function and overall health.

The study involved 31 healthy smokers and vapers aged 21 to 49 years.

• During three separate sessions, they underwent two MRI examinations, one before and after each of the following smoking/vaping episodes—a tobacco cigarette, an e-cigarette aerosol with nicotine, and an e-cigarette aerosol without nicotine;
• A cuff was placed on the subjects’ upper thigh to restrict blood flow. After cuff deflation, femoral artery blood flow velocity and venous blood oxygen saturation (a measure of the amount of oxygen in the blood that returns to the heart after supplying oxygen to body tissues) were assessed;
• cerebrovascular reactivity (blood flow in the brain) was measured using a special type of MRI called phase-contrast MRI;
• Data from smokers and vapers were then compared with baseline scans of 10 non-smokers and non-vapers aged 21 to 33 years.

As a result, it turned out that:

• Following inhalation of each type of vaping or smoking, there was a significant decrease in resting blood flow velocity in the superficial femoral artery. This artery runs along the thigh and supplies oxygenated blood to the entire lower body;
• the decrease in vascular function was most pronounced after inhalation of e-cigarettes containing nicotine, followed by e-cigarettes without nicotine;
• Decreased venous oxygen saturation was also observed in vapers, regardless of whether e-cigarettes contained nicotine or not. This indicates an immediate decrease in oxygen uptake into the lungs after vaping.

This study highlights the acute effects of smoking and vaping on numerous blood vessels in the human body, the scientists note. — If one use of an e-cigarette can have an effect that is immediately manifested at the vascular level, it can be assumed that chronic use can cause vascular diseases.

Scientists note that this study confirms that vaping can be dangerous.

It is always recommended to abstain from smoking and vaping, the researchers conclude.

Source: EurekAlert

Source: Racurs

David

I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.