Vaping and Athletes: A Hidden Threat to Performance and Health

The promise of peak performance drives every athlete. Hours of training, discipline, and sacrifice all in pursuit of one goal: to be better, faster, stronger. But there’s a hidden opponent many athletes don’t see coming: vaping.

What’s Really in That Vape?

E-cigarettes and vape pens have been marketed as a ‘safer’ alternative to smoking. But let’s break down what’s inside that seemingly harmless vapor:

• Nicotine – A highly addictive substance that can impair lung function, reduce oxygen delivery to muscles, and increase heart rate variability.
• Propylene Glycol & Vegetable Glycerin – Used to create the vapor, these chemicals can cause airway irritation and lung inflammation.
• Heavy Metals – Lead, nickel, and tin have been found in vape aerosols, which can contribute to long-term lung damage.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – These toxic chemicals can cause dizziness, nausea, and even damage to vital organs.
• Flavoring Chemicals – Many contain diacetyl, linked to “popcorn lung,” a serious and irreversible lung disease.

How Vaping Impacts Athletes

Athletes rely on every breath, every heartbeat, and every ounce of endurance to perform. Vaping works against all of it:

• Reduced Lung Function – Vaping inflames airways, making breathing harder. A cross-country runner may find their endurance drop significantly, struggling to maintain their usual pace.
• Slower Recovery – Nicotine constricts blood vessels, limiting oxygen flow and slowing muscle repair. A football player taking repeated hits in a game needs efficient muscle recovery—vaping slows that down.
• Weakened Immune System – Increased risk of illness means more missed games and training days. A basketball player fighting off frequent colds may see their stamina suffer late in the season.
• Decreased Mental Focus – Nicotine alters brain chemistry, affecting concentration and reaction times. A baseball hitter who relies on split-second decision-making at the plate might notice a drop in performance.
• Impaired Cardiovascular Performance – A soccer midfielder who needs to sprint, recover, and repeat for 90 minutes may find themselves gasping for air sooner than usual, struggling to keep up.

The Reality Check

In a culture where performance is everything, vaping is an unforced error. The short-term buzz isn’t worth the long-term cost. It’s time for athletes, coaches, and teams to treat vaping like any other threat to performance. We need to educate, prevent, and intervene before it becomes a problem.

Onrise is here to support athletes with the mental health care they need. If you or a teammate are struggling with vaping, talk to the mental health provider for your team.

#AthleteMentalHealth #VapingRisks #OnriseCare