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A groundbreaking new study from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK has raised alarm about the health risks of vaping, suggesting that using e-cigarettes could be “more dangerous than smoking” in certain ways. Traditionally viewed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, vaping has surged in popularity—particularly among youth and those looking to quit smoking—but mounting evidence is complicating this perception.
According to researchers, e-cigarettes enable users to inhale nicotine-laden vapour, which may increase heart rate and blood pressure, and cause potential harm to artery walls. Dr. Maxime Boidin, Senior Lecturer in Cardiac Rehabilitation involved in the study, notes that while much is known about the negative impacts of traditional smoking on cardiovascular health, the long-term effects of vaping remain less clear. Early clinical signs, such as coughing, chest pain, and lung dysfunction, are already being seen among vapers, according to Boidin.
The findings from Manchester Metropolitan are significant as they stand in contrast to prior research that generally positioned smoking as more harmful due to the thousands of known toxins released by burning tobacco. For instance, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death globally, responsible for over 480,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, due to its strong links to cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease.
By contrast, earlier studies and public health agencies have often regarded vaping as less harmful than smoking, because e-cigarettes do not release tar or many of the carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. However, vaping is not without risk—e-cigarettes can deliver high doses of nicotine, toxic chemicals such as diacetyl (linked to severe lung disease), volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals like nickel and lead. In recent years, cases of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) have cast further doubt on the safety of these products.
Notably, a 2019 longitudinal study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that regular vaping increases the risk of developing respiratory diseases by about 40% compared to non-users, a risk still lower than for traditional smokers—but, importantly, risks may be compounded for “dual users” who both smoke and vape.
The new Manchester Metropolitan research, focusing on the chronic and acute effects of vaping on vascular health, adds urgency to ongoing calls for caution: scientists cite growing evidence that the chemicals involved may cause early dysfunction of blood vessels and lungs, possibly raising long-term health risks to levels comparable or even exceeding those of cigarettes in some respects.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on current research and available expert opinion as of July 2025. The long-term health effects of vaping remain under study, and guidance may change as new evidence emerges. Readers should speak to healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice and rely on regulatory agencies for the latest public health recommendations.
