Researchers at the University of Alberta have revealed that vaping and e-cigarettes carry lung risks nearly identical to smoking. Led by Professor Mike Stickland, the study analyzed individuals who had vaped for over three years, exposing significant physical and respiratory decline in young adults.
The clinical trials focused on 20 participants with a history of vaping for three or more years. Despite their youth—with an average age of 23—the subjects exhibited severely impaired exercise tolerance. Professor Stickland noted that participants became out of breath at intensities equivalent to a moderate walking pace, a highly unusual symptom for their demographic.
While many users transition to e-cigarettes believing they are a healthier alternative to traditional tobacco’s 5,000+ chemicals, researchers warn this is a dangerous misconception. The highly addictive nature of modern e-cigarettes, combined with appealing flavors and aggressive marketing, has fueled a youth nicotine epidemic that rivals historic smoking rates.
For many young users, the struggle to quit highlights the severity of the addiction. Even as awareness of the physical toll grows, the lack of negative social stigma surrounding vapes continues to make them highly accessible and difficult to abandon.