Vapers are just unfit as smokers and find it equally hard to breathe, study finds

Though vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, the habit isn't completely harmless and comes with its own set of risks.

The NHS only recommends it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking.

GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye explained to The Sun that the differences between vaping and smoking - and whether one is better than the other - is "complicated".

"In a nutshell, vaping is better than smoking, but breathing air is better than vaping at all."

Vaping exposes users to far fewer toxins - and at lower levels - than smoking cigarettes.

Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke.

These diseases are not caused by nicotine, which is relatively harmless to health. But research has still linked vaping to a higher risk of failure and lung disease.

Health risks of cigarettes

• Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer
• Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels 
• Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs
• Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body
• It affects overall health too, such as your mouth, eyes, immune system and fertility

Health risks of vaping

• They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick
• They could lead to tooth decay
• They could damage heart health
• They could cause lung disease
• They could slow brain development

Read more on how vaping can affect your health here.

Sources: NHS, CDC