In today’s world, prioritizing health and wellness is more important than ever. Whether your fitness goals include lifting heavier, running farther, or simply showing up consistently, your ability to perform at your best hinges on one essential factor: your ability to breathe efficiently.

Every time you inhale during a workout, you draw in the oxygen your muscles need to power your performance. But what happens when your lungs aren’t working at full capacity? When something interferes with the very oxygen your body depends on? While the dangers of smoking cigarettes are well documented, the growing popularity of vaping has raised questions about its impact on physical fitness. Could vaping be quietly undermining your progress at the gym?

At Adventure Fitness Athletic Club in Thornton, Colorado, we believe in supporting every member’s journey to wellness. Let’s take a deeper look into how vaping may be affecting your workouts more than you think.

Does Vaping Affect My Workouts at the Gym?

Although e-cigarettes are often touted as a “healthier alternative” to traditional tobacco products, that label doesn’t necessarily mean they’re harmless, especially when it comes to fitness. Vaping introduces chemicals and nicotine into the lungs, which can interfere with oxygen intake and cardiovascular function. And when you’re lifting, sprinting, or pushing through a tough class, every breath counts.

A widely cited report from Public Health England once claimed that e-cigarettes were “95% less harmful” than smoking. However, newer research paints a more nuanced — and more troubling — picture, particularly for those who are physically active.

What Some Studies Reveal

At the 2024 European Respiratory Society Congress, researchers unveiled findings that vapers — particularly young adults — perform significantly worse in exercise tests than their non-vaping peers. The study examined 60 participants in their 20s, split equally between non-users, vapers, and smokers. The results were clear: vapers and smokers showed similarly poor performance levels, with lower power output and decreased oxygen consumption during peak exercise.

To put it in numbers: vapers peaked at 186 watts during a static bike test, compared to 226 watts for non-vapers. And in terms of oxygen use, vapers consumed 2.7 liters per minute versus 3.0 for the non-vaping group.

This research challenges the assumption that vaping is a “safer” option, at least when it comes to athletic ability.

Overall Performance Suffers

A U.S. Army study backs this up, revealing that both smokers and vapers consistently underperformed in fitness benchmarks like timed runs, push-ups, and sit-ups. Their physical fitness lagged behind those who had never used tobacco products. The bottom line? Whether it’s through smoke or vapor, introducing foreign substances to your lungs can hinder the performance you’ve worked so hard to build.

Vaping and Physical Activity: A Closer Look

The negative effects of vaping are becoming harder to ignore, especially for active individuals. Here are some of the ways vaping can interfere with your physical performance.

Reduced Endurance: Vapers often experience quicker fatigue during workouts.
Lower Muscular Strength and Flexibility: Studies suggest a noticeable dip in power and flexibility metrics.
Slower Recovery Times: Vaping may lead to prolonged soreness and muscle fatigue.
Breathing Issues: Coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath are common side effects.

If you’ve ever found yourself unusually winded halfway through a workout, vaping could be playing a role.

Heart, Lung, and Circulatory System Impacts

Oxygen is essential for performance, and the heart, lungs, and blood vessels all play a crucial role in getting it where it needs to go. Vaping, much like smoking, compromises each of these systems.

One study found that vapers had significantly lower peak oxygen consumption during heart health evaluations, and another showed impaired blood vessel function, leading to muscle fatigue and poor circulation. This translates to less oxygen reaching your muscles, which not only reduces performance but increases recovery time and overall exhaustion.

The Oxygen Deficit Dilemma

Carbon monoxide — a byproduct of both smoking and, in some cases, vaping — competes with oxygen for space in your red blood cells. This reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to your muscles during workouts, which in turn spikes lactic acid levels, causes that familiar burning sensation, and slows down performance.

Even if vaping exposes you to less carbon monoxide than cigarettes, it may still be more than your body can handle during high-effort physical activity. And less oxygen means more strain on your heart, a higher resting heart rate, and reduced stamina for everyday tasks like climbing stairs or pushing through a tough set of burpees.

The Nicotine Problem: More Than Just Addiction

Nicotine, the addictive component in vape products, has several physiological effects that impact exercise. According to the American Heart Association, nicotine use can increase both heart rate and blood pressure. This might sound similar to what happens naturally during exercise, but the added stress can overburden your cardiovascular system, especially during high-intensity training.

In one study, both smokers and vapers experienced:

A 4 bpm increase in resting heart rate after use.
Blood pressure spikes from an average of 122/72 mm Hg to 127/77 mm Hg.
Increased artery constriction, which limits blood flow and oxygen delivery.
Activation of the sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight response), putting the body in a constant state of stress.

When your body is already working hard to meet exercise demands, these added stressors from nicotine make it even more difficult to achieve your goals.

Reduced Cardio Performance and Slower Recovery

Another controlled study assessed treadmill stress testing and found that vapers performed significantly worse than non-users on all four cardiovascular fitness indicators. These included:

Lower total exercise capacity
Reduced heart rate reserve (an indicator of aerobic fitness)
Slower heart rate recovery post-exercise
Decreased cardiac workload during peak performance

Alarmingly, vapers performed just as poorly as smokers, even though they had been using nicotine products for a shorter time and were generally younger. This strongly suggests that vaping isn’t the “less harmful” shortcut to a nicotine fix that some might believe.

So … Should I Vape and Work Out?

If your goal is to build strength, improve endurance, or simply feel better physically, vaping could be holding you back. It affects your breathing, limits your oxygen intake, disrupts cardiovascular function, and even impairs your muscular recovery.

While vaping may be marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, the research tells a different story, one that’s especially relevant for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Your workouts at AFAC gym are a commitment to bettering yourself. Don’t let a vape pen undo all the progress you’ve made.

Don’t Let Vaping Steal Your Strength at the Gym

Fitness is a journey that rewards consistency, effort, and smart choices. Every breath, every rep, every drop of sweat is a step toward a stronger, healthier you. Don’t let vaping sabotage your hard-earned gains.

At Adventure Fitness Athletic Club, we’re here to support every step of your health journey—from workout tips to wellness education. If you’ve been struggling with your performance and suspect vaping could be part of the problem, talk to a health professional and consider making a change. Your lungs — and your future self — will thank you.

We hope you’ll visit AFAC gym today to speak to our team about our affordable memberships. AFAC gym is committed to supporting your health and wellness efforts, so you’ll see the results you’re working so hard for. That’s why we were voted the best gym in Thornton, Colorado, and have hundreds of 5-star reviews.

To learn more about our top-rated gym and our incredible array of strength training and cardio equipment — as well as our unique offerings and amenities like daily group classes, cryotherapy, InBody 770 assessments, hydro massage, personal trainers, and our rock climbing wall and cave — we hope you will contact us or visit for a personalized tour. Our team will be happy to help you. For more information and assistance, you can also contact our gym owner, Susan, at 720-849-0245 or susan@adventurefitness.club.