If you vape regularly and also go to the gym, play sports or do any form of cardio training, you may have wondered whether vaping is having an impact on your performance. Whether you are training for a run or just trying to stay fit, it is worth understanding how nicotine and vapour might influence your stamina, breathing and recovery.
In this guide, we will look at what is currently known about vaping and cardio health, how it compares to smoking and what steps you can take if you want to protect your fitness while using a vape.
Can vaping affect your cardiovascular performance?
Yes, it can in some cases. Vaping introduces nicotine into the body, which is a stimulant. It increases heart rate and blood pressure temporarily. While this may not be noticeable during everyday activities, it can have an effect during high-intensity exercise where your heart is already working hard.
Nicotine also causes blood vessels to narrow, which means your circulation may not be as efficient during training. Over time, repeated exposure could contribute to reduced cardiovascular efficiency in some users.
Does vaping affect your breathing?
Vaping does not involve combustion like smoking, so it avoids tar and many of the lung-damaging chemicals found in cigarettes. However, inhaling vapour still introduces foreign substances into the lungs. This can cause dryness, irritation or mild inflammation, especially in people who already have asthma or sensitive airways.
If you vape and notice that your breathing feels more laboured during cardio, or your recovery takes longer, it may be worth reviewing how often you vape and what strength you use.
Devices like the Lost Mary BM6000 deliver vapour in a smooth and consistent way, which is often more comfortable than harsh devices. Still, the nicotine and vapour may have short-term effects on how easily you breathe during intense activity.
Will it stop you improving?
Vaping is unlikely to completely stop you making cardio progress, especially if you train regularly and eat well. Many people vape and still run 5ks, play football or go to the gym without major issues.
However, it may slightly reduce your peak performance. If your goal is to get your best time, improve lung capacity or push to the next level, then reducing or quitting vaping could help.
Even small improvements in oxygen intake and heart efficiency can add up over time when training, so cutting back on vaping may give you that extra edge.
Is vaping better than smoking for cardio?
Yes. Smoking has a well-known impact on cardio health. It reduces oxygen in the blood, damages lung tissue and hardens the arteries. Vaping avoids many of these harms, which is why switching from smoking to vaping is seen as a positive step by many public health bodies in the UK.
That said, vaping is not the same as quitting nicotine completely. It still affects blood flow and heart rate, just in a milder way. If you are trying to reach peak fitness, going nicotine-free is usually the ideal goal.
What about nicotine-free vaping?
If you use a nicotine-free vape, the impact on heart rate and blood pressure is likely to be much lower. That said, you are still inhaling vapour into your lungs, which may have a small effect on breathing depending on how often and how heavily you vape.
Some users who are focused on cardio performance choose to taper down their nicotine over time and eventually switch to a zero-nicotine liquid. Others stop completely during training cycles or leading up to competitions.
Can vaping cause chest tightness during exercise?
Some vapers report mild chest tightness or breathlessness during workouts, especially if they vape heavily or do not leave much time between vaping and training. This may be due to vapour drying out the lungs, irritation from certain flavourings or the stimulant effects of nicotine.
If you notice these symptoms, take a short break from vaping and see if things improve. Hydration, rest and slower vaping may help reduce this feeling.
Want more info on vaping and performance?
Our full health guides section covers topics like energy levels, lung impact, recovery and how vaping affects everyday habits. Each article is written for UK vapers and includes clear, honest information to help you make the best choice for your lifestyle.
Final thoughts
Vaping can affect cardio performance slightly, mainly due to nicotine’s effect on heart rate and blood flow. It is still much better than smoking in terms of lung health, but it is not completely neutral when it comes to exercise and endurance.
If you want to improve your cardio fitness, cutting back on nicotine or switching to a zero-nicotine vape may help. And if you are using vaping as a tool to stop smoking, keep going at your own pace and stay active while you make progress.
If you are browsing new options for your next refill, the Lost Mary BM6000 collection offers a wide variety of flavour choices in a simple, refillable format.
If you're noticing symptoms like breathlessness, read does vaping make you feel tired.
You may also want to check does vaping increase blood pressure for its effects on the heart.