Vaping linked to greater lung impairment than traditional cigarettes

A study conducted by researchers from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR) and the Faculdades Integradas de Taquara (FACCAT-RS) suggests that electronic cigarette use, or vaping, may cause more significant lung function impairment than conventional tobacco smoking.

The research, published in the journal Fisioterapia em Movimento, involved 45 participants aged 18 to 40, divided into groups of vape users, tobacco smokers, and non-smokers. Using spirometry to measure air volume and expulsion speed, researchers found that vape users exhibited early signs of airway obstruction. Specifically, they expelled less air in the first second of forced expiration and showed lower proportional air volume compared to tobacco smokers.

Researcher Emmanuel Souza da Rocha noted that these changes can occur early and silently, even in young, healthy individuals. The findings challenge the perception of vaping as a safer alternative, as the observed patterns are associated with long-term risks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).