Researchers are looking into the long-term impact of vaping on the cardiovascular system as part of a new study.
A team at Manchester Metropolitan University will compare health markers in those who use e-cigarettes and those who do not.
Taking around 18 months to complete, markers will include the quality of blood vessels in both the arm and neck. Researchers will also look at their elasticity, which is an indicator of vascular health.
Very little research has been done on the long-term impacts of vaping on health due to them being relatively new on the market.
Chronic and acute effects
Dr Maxime Boidin, senior lecturer in Cardiac rehabilitation at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, said: ‘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.
‘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.’
To measure blood vessel elasticity, the participant’s hand will be submerged into ice water, which will cause the blood vessel to react.
Participants will also take part in a fitness test, where teams will also measure their cerebral blood flow – the speed of blood flow in the brain – and their ability to take on oxygen.
Potential risks
To ensure the long-term impacts of vaping and smoking is being assessed, all participants will also be tested in a fasted state, having had no food, caffeine, cigarettes or vapes that day.
Dr Boidin added: ‘Although our research won’t be published for around 18 months, we hope that our findings will help to inform guidelines and regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes in the future.
‘We also hope to help the general population better understand what they are putting in their bodies and any potential risks that come with that.
‘We should heed the lessons from the mistakes made in the 1980s regarding traditional cigarettes and avoid repeating similar errors with e-cigarettes.’
Another recent study has suggested that vaping does not act as a gateway into smoking.
Research led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) suggests there is no sign that e-cigarettes products promote smoking.
It also found some evidence that these products compete against cigarettes. As a result, it may be speeding up the demise of smoking. However, this finding is only tentative – researchers said more data is needed to determine the size of this effect.
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
