A study has been launched to measure the long-term impact of vaping on the body’s cardiovascular system.
Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University will assess health markers in people who use e-cigarettes compared with those who smoke and those who do neither.
The study, which is expected to take 18 months to complete, will measure the quality of blood vessels in the arm and neck – and specifically their elasticity – which is an indicator of vascular health. Studies have shown the elasticity in smokers is worse than non-smokers.
Researchers believe vapers suffer from the same impact. Dr Max Boidin, a researcher at the university’s Institute of Sport, told Sky News: “The study will look at the chronic and acute effects of using a vape on vascular health.
“We know already the long-term impact of smoking behaviour on cardiovascular health but for e-cigarettes it is not the case yet.
Smoking cessation
Smokers urged to switch to vaping in ‘swap to stop’ scheme
Smoking cessation push will reap economic benefits, report claims
“From discussions with clinical experts, they have mentioned already they have seen some symptoms like coughing, chest pain or lung dysfunction. So we can see the early markers of this dysfunction of using a vape at the moment.”
The study has been launched at a time when calls for research into the long-term effects of vaping have intensified.
While, on the one hand, research has suggested e-cigarettes and vaping can help people to quit smoking better than traditional nicotine-replacement therapies, on the other there are growing concerns that vaping can have negative health consequences, including affecting heart rate and blood pressure.
There is also speculation the government might ban disposable vapes to curb use among young people, Sky News has argued.
The news channel also quoted Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, who said: “It [vaping] is definitely much less harmful than smoking but that doesn’t mean to say it is risk-free.
“We do need longer-term research to show what the impact is so that people who have never smoked know the risks they are putting themselves to by vaping.”
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
