Study: Vaping Disrupts Vascular System, Oxygen Levels
Study: Vaping Disrupts Vascular System, Oxygen Levels
The Facts
According to a new study presented at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting, vaping, even without nicotine, immediately reduces vascular function. It also decreases venous oxygen saturation, indicating less oxygen uptake by the lungs.
The study, which was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania but not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal, showed that while nicotine vapes, or e-cigarettes, had the largest impact on vascular health, non-nicotine variants also caused measurable harm.
The Spin
While scientists have unfortunately failed to give as much attention to vaping as it does smoking, the research still indicates that the negatives outweigh the positives — particularly regarding impaired vascular function, oxidative stress, and increased addiction risk among youth. Governments must ban or heavily regulate vaping products to prevent an epidemic of addiction and long-term health consequences.
While vapes must be kept out of the hands of children and non-smokers to prevent nicotine addiction and long-term health risks, they still remain a helpful tool for adults attempting to quit smoking. E-cigarettes offer a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes as part of a harm-reduction strategy, and smokers deserve the right to make the switch as they work toward healthier habits.
While the health industry's push for safer alternatives — like marijuana and vapes over cigarettes or "mocktails" over alcohol — is well-intentioned, it often promotes antisocial, synthetic substitutes that lack the communal and experiential aspects of the original activities. Life is full of risk and reward trade-offs, and while perfect health is of course desirable, it shouldn't be the sole factor in life decisions.
