Vaping is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young adults. According to studies, the percentage of young people who vape increased from roughly 1% in 2011 to an astounding 21% in 2018. Inhaling any form of smoke can make you accumulate certain health downfalls over time, often starting as more minor concerns and turning into more serious medical conditions as time goes on.
Smoking vapes can cause both immediate and long-standing effects on physical activity and exercise. People who smoke tend to have:
Low endurance levels.
Weaker physical performance.
Shortness of breath and less lung capacity.
Injury prone muscles.
Longer recovery times.
Less strength and flexibility in their muscles.
Worsened sleep patterns.
This guide will take a look at how vaping can hurt your fitness journey, as well as recommending some alternatives that can help you get back on track while still getting your fix.
How Vaping Affects Exercise
While there isn’t too much research into the direct effects of smoking vapes on exercise, it is clear that it can affect how well people can perform physical activities. Using a vape once in a while will have minimal effects on exercise performance and is better than smoking cigarettes, but if you are a regular user it might not be great for your physical wellbeing.
The e-liquids found in most vapes contain nicotine, which can negatively impact how well we perform exercises and general physical tasks. It can also damage lung cells in more extreme cases, which can reduce how well the lungs perform and reduce their overall capacity. You might think indulging in a nicotine-free e-liquid might be safe? Well, think again. This type of e-liquid can still cause issues as the chemical used in vapes can irritate your respiratory system. This can lead to increased coughs, wheezes and shortness of breath.
Alternatives to Vaping
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the best replacement for regular vape usage, as it will help with reducing the amount of times you want to use a vape while also preventing nicotine withdrawal. Some options you can try out include:
Pouches: Using products like Nicopods can be very beneficial for your health in comparison to vaping, as you don’t intake any smoke and can still get your fix of nicotine without significantly damaging your lung capacity. You can also try Velo as an alternative.
Gums: You can use a short-acting product like gum for breakthrough cravings of nicotine. Chewing gum is much healthier than smoking, as it won’t have any direct effects on your respiratory system.
Lozenges: Similarly to gum, sucking on a lozenge is much better for your health compared to vaping and will not have a negative impact on your physical performance.
Making a list of activities that you can do to distract yourself from the craving to vape can also be beneficial. You can walk, run, call a friend, have a shower or play video games to keep your mind occupied.
