6 Potential Side Effects of Vaping

Vaping has been popular in our daily life for more than a decade. While enjoying the nicotine satisfaction from vaping, some vapers especially newbies are also suffering side effects from it. In this article we’ll discuss the 6 common potential side effects of vaping.

1. Dry mouth

One of the most common side effects of vaping is dry mouth. Dry mouth is most related to the basic ingredients of e-liquid, PG and VG, which is short for propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. Although it is reported that a higher percentage of PG generally produces more drying effects on the oral cavity, it is quite common for a 100% VG vaper to still experience this drying effect. The reason behind this seems counterintuitive. Both PG and VG are humectants, which is why they are used in consumer products to keep them moist, but they are also hygroscopic, which means they absorb water.

If you are experiencing general dry mouth, you can use an oral hydrating rinse like Biotene. Ironically, both PG and VG are ingredients, or you can simply drink more water. These two remedies are usually the easiest way to bring moisture back into your mouth. If your mouth continues to be dry, consult your oral health service provider. Chronic dry mouth may be a symptom of dehydration, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious oral health complications.

2. Sore throat

Sore or itchy throat can be caused by many factors, such as nicotine, propylene glycol, flavoring, and even the coil used in the atomizer. Some coils used for atomization are nickel-based, and it is not uncommon for vapers to find that they are allergic to nickel. In addition, some reports on the Internet show that sore throat is related to high nicotine, especially when using high concentrations of propylene glycol (50% or more).

If you think these problems are related to e-liquid, try to use a higher percentage of VG or a new flavor, such as menthol juice or lower the nicotine concentration. If you are sure that it is not liquid or nicotine, it may be the type of atomizing wire used in your coil. Check the specifications of the equipment to see if it has nickel coils or nickel content coils, such as nickel-chromium alloys (usually listed as Ni80). If there is no specific coil material, please replace with a stainless steel that clearly states the use of Kanthal or stainless steel. Stainless steel may also contain nickel but usually only 10%. If this does not seem to eliminate the sore throat, please make an appointment with your doctor.

3. Cough

The problem of coughing while coughing often appears in the complaints of beginner vapers, even if they are ex-smokers or even current smokers. Generally speaking, coughing is the result of wrong way of inhalation. It is like the result of using high nicotine with direct lung inhalation or trying to perform cigarette-type vaping on a device with excessive airflow.

If you cough while hitting, check the airflow of the device without activating it. If your device has automatic drawing, remove the cartridge or pod and draw it without connecting the battery. If it is as taut as a coffee stalk, it means it’s a mouth-to-lung type of device. If you feel like you are sucking in air through a milkshake straw, it is a direct lung device and you need to suck it directly into your lungs and blow it out immediately. It is strongly recommended that the direct lung device be used with nicotine of 6 mg/mL or less.

4. Headache

If you quit smoking recently, headaches are not uncommon. Although you can still get nicotine from vaping, nicotine is not the only alkaloid in tobacco. Alkaloids have a physiological effect on users, and cessation of habitual use may cause headaches. Nicotine is the main alkaloid in tobacco, accounting for about 95% of the alkaloid content, but tobacco smoke also contains a small amount of alkaloids in other tobacco, which does not exist in the liquid. These tobacco alkaloids act synergistically with nicotine and are thought to increase potential dependence. If you have recently quit smoking and are taking nicotine, nicotine alone may not be enough to avoid headaches in the first place, and you may withdraw from other chemicals and alkaloids in tobacco.

If you experience a headache and you are not quitting smoking, then you may be dehydrated. Headache is a common symptom of dehydration. If you notice persistent dry mouth along with headaches, the remedy may just be drinking more water. But if this does not work, you should consult a medical professional.

5. Dizziness or lightheadedness

Similar to the feeling of smoking for the first time, it is very common to experience dizziness and vertigo from vaping. Also similar to smoking, this usually stops presenting when you consume it. This feeling does not generally come from vaping; it comes from nicotine-especially high nicotine.

If you are worried about the feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness, the best way is to reduce the amount of nicotine or vaping in a short time. If you don’t want to reduce your consumption, then when your body gets used to nicotine, it may disappear.

6. Tired and exhausted

Nicotine is a stimulant. Paradoxically, it can increase mental alertness and has a calming effect. As you can imagine, if you feel tired or exhausted from vomiting, it may be similar to a caffeine crash. If you find yourself drowsy, try to reduce or increase the intensity of nicotine, or even eliminate them all. The point is, what you are currently using is to disagree with what you mean. Change it.  

Many side effects of vaping are actually resulting from the side effects of nicotine usage. Vaping is not a healthy life style. However, when vaping is compared to smoking, they are a safer alternative. If you are one of the millions of people who use vaping as a substitute for smoking, you should compare the minor side effects of vaping with the absolute harm of smoking.