The use of e-cigarettes after exercise can have multiple negative effects on the body, as follows:
Impaired heart and lung function: Nicotine in e-cigarettes constricts blood vessels and reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. After exercising, the body already needs more oxygen to recover. At this time, using e-cigarettes will further increase the burden on the heart and lungs, causing a continuous increase in heart rate and more obvious muscle fatigue. An experiment conducted by the University of Manchester in the UK found that young people who have been using e-cigarettes for more than two years have a maximum physical activity capacity that is 18% lower than that of non-smokers, almost on par with that of smokers.
Decreased exercise endurance: The chemicals in e-cigarettes can cause lung inflammation and affect breathing efficiency. The cardiopulmonary endurance of long-term e-cigarette users is significantly lower than that of non-users, which is manifested as a decline in performance in running and strength tests. For example, the two-mile running time of e-cigarette users is 27 seconds slower than that of non-smokers, and they also do fewer push-ups and sit-ups.
Muscle recovery slows down: Nicotine inhibits the repair ability of muscle fibers, resulting in an extended recovery time after exercise. Animal experiments have shown that after 14 days of e-cigarette exposure, the grip strength and swimming time of mice decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and the glycogen storage in the liver and muscles also decreased. For trainers who need to recover quickly, the use of e-cigarettes will weaken the training effect.
Increased potential health risks: E-cigarette aerosols contain various harmful substances, such as formaldehyde and acrolein, which not only have a strong irritating effect on the respiratory system but may also increase the risk of lung cancer and other cancers. In addition, some additives in e-cigarettes may also cause damage to the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.