Is It Normal For an Ex-Smoker to Get Coughing Fits When Vaping?

You might think that just because you used to be a smoker, vaping will be a smooth experience. However, that’s not the case because inhalation in vaping is different from that of tobacco consumption, which may lead to coughing fits.

In addition, due to the nature of vaping and the mixed results you can experience, you may want to consider abstaining from it entirely and choosing a more reliable method, such as drops or edibles.

However, if you are absolutely hellbent on vaping, here is some info you might want to know about when it comes to coughing:

How common are coughing fits?

Research suggests that out of 600 vapers, 57% of them will cough when they have their first vape hit. This means that a little over half the people who try vaping will likely cough during their first attempt at it. Luckily, the rate of coughing may reduce as you get used to it. So don't be discouraged.

Why do you cough when you try vaping?

There are a couple of reasons why vaping may make you cough, and they include:

• Poor vaping techniques
• The presence of irritants in the vapour, for example, propylene glycol
• Regrowth of cilia in ex-smokers
• Dehydration of the body, making the throat itchy
• In some cases, a hot e-liquid may spit back up into your mouth
• The wick may be carbonized and needs to be replaced

As stated above, several issues can irritate your throat, leading to coughing.

Possible ways to manage a cough when vaping

Change up your juice ratio

E-liquid is composed of PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerine), a composition responsible for the thick clouds of vapour that vaping is famous for. Anything else - nicotine and terpenes - are additives that alter how e-liquid tastes and feels.

Some individuals may be allergic to PG, which may lead to coughing. PG and nicotine determine the level of 'harshness,' referred to as 'throat hit.' A good method to reduce the harshness is to blend e-liquid with a higher VG to PG ratio.

Another way you can do this is to reduce the amount of nicotine until the irritation begins. Once your lungs and throat get used to e-liquid vapour, you can gradually add nicotine until you achieve the desired concentration.

Stay hydrated

As with smoking, vaping dehydrates the body, so ensure to have a glass of water near you to stay hydrated all the time.

Change the coil

It's advisable that you conduct a regular check-up to determine the condition of your coil. If it's worn out, this may be the time to replace it to enjoy vaping experience with no coughing fits.

As you can see, there are a number of things you can do to manage coughing fits when you start vaping. The best part is that throat irritation and coughing will subside after one or two weeks, so be patient.