7 Common Side Effects of Vaping and How to Prevent It

It is an established fact that vaping is a lot safer as well as healthier than smoking. However, they are not completely safe as they still pose a few side effects. Not everyone experiences all these together. Vapers may encounter some, all, or none of these side effects as they use e-cigarette or vaporiser. These side effects are largely dependent on both the individual as well as the e-liquid and its ingredients.

7 Common Side Effects of Vaping and How to Prevent It

Listed below are some of the side effects of vaping and ways to tackle them as they happen:

  1. Sore Throat

    Sore throat is the most common side effect. Typically, sore throat is caused by e-liquids that contain high concentrations of PG, which makes it especially difficult for the body to tolerate. Additionally, this can also be caused by the flavourings used in the e-liquid or the nickel-based coil in the vaping device.

    The best resolution to encounter this side effect is to tackle each problem in turn. Start by trying an e-liquid with a higher concentration of VG instead of PG. In case this doesn’t work, carefully look at the ingredients present in the e-liquid and eliminate each one until the problem stops. And in case that doesn't work either, switch the device.

  1. Dry Mouth

    Since both VG and PG present in the e-liquids are hygroscopic, they absorb moisture, causing the mouth to get dry. Therefore, this is the second most common side effect. However, PG is considered to be the greater cause of dry mouth than VG.

    The best way to tackle this problem is to ensure that the vaper keeps themselves hydrated with water. Furthermore, users can also use oral rehydration solutions to rinse the mouth. However, if the dry mouth still persists, it is wise to speak with a medical professional.

  1. Constant Coughing During Vaping

    In general, coughing while vaping is triggered by either an incorrect vaping technique or by an e-liquid with high nicotine concentration. Additionally, this can also happen if the user tries to take a cig-like draw on a vaping device with a high airflow.

    First step to tackle this situation is to ensure that the airflow of the device is not too high. It is important to note that if the airflow of the device is tight, it’s a mouth-to-lung device designed for e-liquids with higher nicotine contents. Furthermore, if the airflow is easy then the device is suited for direct-lung method. Such devices require e-liquids with low or no nicotine content.

  1. Headaches, Dizziness, and/or Headrush

    Typically, headache is a common side effect seen among people who have recently quit smoking. This is essentially because nicotine alone doesn’t contain enough alkaloids. Alkaloid is a compound which has a physiological effect on a smoker. However, dizziness and head rush are extremely common in first-time vapers, and often, the driving factor for such conditions is nicotine.

    Many such situations of headaches, dizziness, and headrush can be curbed by always hydrating oneself by drinking plenty of water. Typically, these are bound to go away with long-term vaping.

  1. Nausea and Sickness

    People often tend to feel nauseated after smoking, wondering if smoking causes vomiting. Essentially, the nausea or sickness after a vaping session is caused by nicotine. Some popular over-the-counter anti-smoking remedies including nicotine gums, patches, and sprays account for nausea and sickness as their common symptoms. Sickness can also be triggered by the use of an e-liquid with ingredients sensitive to the user.

    Nausea can be either caused by the nicotine or by other ingredients present in the e-liquid. Hence, an easy nicotine nausea cure is to change the e-liquid. Typically, for nicotine-related nausea, the symptoms would go away with time. However, for ingredient-related nausea, it is important to use an e-liquid with ingredients suitable for the user.

  1. A Feeling of Tiredness or Fatigue

    In general, nicotine works in two ways. Nicotine can either be extremely stimulating, or it can be incredibly draining. Based on the personal tolerance of the user, nicotine could work either mildly or extremely in these ways. Nicotine’s side effects like tiredness or fatigue can often draw parallels with a caffeine crash.

    This situation is usually resolved by significantly reducing nicotine content in the e-liquids or by completely eliminating it. Such feelings of fatigue are commonly experienced by new vapers with little to no history of smoking. This is because their bodies are not very used to the substance.

  1. Declining Oral Health

    There are several negative effects that are caused due to vaping in case of oral health. What can happen if you vape too much is covered by several studies. Essentially, these studies proved that prolonged exposure to e-cigarette aerosol can make teeth surfaces more likely to develop bacteria. Thus, vaping increases the risk for cavities in one’s mouth. Furthermore, vaping is key driving factor for other oral health concerns such as gum inflammation, which is a tell-tale sign of periodontal diseases. Additionally, there are studies that show that both nicotine and nicotine-free e-cigarettes could damage oral cells and tissues.

Is There a Difference Between Vaping and Smoking Cigarettes?

The most significant point of difference between cigarettes and vape juice is the absence of tobacco in vape juice. Though this is an advantage, tobacco is not the only harmful component of a cigarette. There are also several other harmful substances present in a cigarette. Long term smoking can be a primary trigger for other serious conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease, breast cancer, and several other serious health issues. Furthermore, cigarettes also contain significant amounts of known carcinogens as well as toxic chemicals. 

Additionally, vape cartridges may contain significantly high levels of formaldehyde while there are also vape juices that contain benzene, which is a common carcinogen. Though e-cigarettes contain several harmful chemicals that are present in cigarettes, it is less than cigarettes. Often, increased use of e-cigarettes can cause higher concentrations of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other airborne pathogens to be inhaled. Owing to the absence of long-term studies, one cannot simply assume that vaping is less harmful.

D & R Vape Shop is your trusted source when you need nicotine-free e-liquids and vape supplies across Australia. For further information regarding vaping or the services offered by D & R Vape, contact us on (03) 5561 2963.