Smoking cigarettes can leave you gasping for breath at the start line, but did you know vaping can also have negative effects on your physical fitness?

Overall Performance

A study with U.S. Army Soldiers found that both people who smoked cigarettes and people who vaped lagged behind people who had never used tobacco products in run time, sit-ups and push-ups. This suggests that vaping had a negative impact on physical fitness levels that was similar to cigarettes.

Heart & Lung Function

People who smoke cigarettes get less oxygen to their heart, lungs and muscles. This causes them to become tired during physical exercise. Recent studies suggest vaping may have similar negative effects on the heart and lungs. One study with young adults found that people who vape had lower levels of peak oxygen consumption during a test of heart health than people who did not use tobacco. Another study with young adults found that both people who smoked and people who vaped had less efficient blood flow, more difficulty breathing and more shortness of breath than people who did not use tobacco products.

Using Exercise to Quit Tobacco

The good news is that, whether you vape or smoke cigarettes, exercise can be a part of your plan to quit tobacco. Exercise can help reduce tobacco cravings, manage withdrawal symptoms like irritability or fatigue, decrease appetite that can lead to unwanted weight gain and reduce stress.

If you’ve noticed tobacco has had a negative impact on your physical fitness, quitting offers your best chance at reversing it. After people quit smoking, their heart pumps blood more efficiently, blood circulation increases and lung function improves. This can add up to improvements in physical fitness! There are a lot of resources available to help you live a tobacco-free life. You can start by speaking with your healthcare provider or by checking out the tools and resources here.