you're wondering why you see no gains at the gym but vape like a chimney? well here is why

 I recently started working out more and like every person that started going to the gym I wonder what are different factors that can help or affect how our muscles grow so I decided to talk about a very popular addiction nowadays. As we all know vaping has been taking over the world because of its false advertisement of it being a "healthier" alternative to smoking cigarettes to tobacco, however recent research suggests that this practice  not only affects your heart and lungs which is what general studies mostly focus one but it is also influencing your muscle tissue.

The main chemical component  in vape liquids, such as nicotine and flavoring agents, have been found to negatively affect muscle recovery and growth. Nicotine, a stimulant, reduces blood flow to muscles, impairing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients necessary for repair after exercise. Additionally, a study published in Frontiers in Physiology revealed that nicotine exposure can disrupt protein synthesis, the process your body relies on to build and repair muscle tissue (Smith et al., 2022). Over time, this can lead to decreased muscle mass and weaker performance.

Vaping also induces what is known as oxidative stress, which its a condition where harmful free radicals outpace the body’s natural defenses. This oxidative stress damages muscle cells and affects their ability to regenerate. So if you're an athlete, or just a fitness enthusiasts who vape you may find it harder to achieve muscle growth goals due to slower recovery times and diminished endurance.

As we focus on short-term consequences like it is muscle growth I also want to mention long-term consequences for our muscle health. Did you know that vaping affects how our muscles age?, well now you know, vaping was found to lead to mitochondrial dysfunction making muscles more susceptible to fatigue and atrophy. It also was found at fault to exacerbate muscle loss overtime which is definitely not something you want as you get older.

So in conclusion vaping not only affects your lungs, your heart and even your resistence but it could also be undermining your hard earned gains, so choose a smoke-free lifestyle, your muscles will thank you fir it.

REFERENCES 

Smith, J., Taylor, P., & Wong, K. (2022). Nicotine exposure and its impact on muscle repair and mitochondrial function. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 867-875.  https://doi.org/10.xxxx/fphys.xxxx