Know Your Vape

Is Vaping Unhealthy? The Connection Between Vaping and Coughing

By Know Your Vape · · Updated

Contents

Overview of vaping and its popularity

Vaping means inhaling an aerosol made by an e-cigarette or vape pen. The device heats an e-liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals.

Many adults who smoke use vapes to replace cigarettes. Vaping exposes users to fewer harmful chemicals than smoking, but it is not risk-free, and non-smokers and anyone under 21 should not vape.

Coughing is one of the most common complaints, especially for new users. This article explains why it happens, what research shows, and when a cough needs medical attention.

Understanding the Connection Between Vaping and Coughing

What is vaping?

A vape has a battery, a heating coil, and a tank or pod of e-liquid. When you inhale, the coil heats the liquid into an aerosol. Unlike cigarettes, nothing is burned.

Common ingredients in vape liquids

  1. Propylene glycol (PG): A thin, odorless liquid that carries flavor and nicotine and produces the "throat hit."
  2. Vegetable glycerin (VG): A thicker, sweet liquid that makes denser vapor and tends to feel smoother.
  3. Flavorings: Often food-grade flavorings. Being safe to eat does not mean they are safe to heat and inhale.
  4. Nicotine: Present in most e-liquids and highly addictive. Some products are labeled nicotine-free.

Potential reasons for coughing while vaping

  1. Throat irritation: Warm aerosol, PG, and nicotine can irritate the throat and trigger the cough reflex.
  2. Sensitivity to ingredients: Some people react to PG or certain flavorings.
  3. Inhaling technique and device settings: Taking large or forceful puffs, or using high power, can feel harsh.

Existing Research on the Effects of Vaping on Coughing

Studies and Findings

In clinical trials of e-cigarettes for quitting smoking, cough and throat or mouth irritation were among the most common side effects, according to a Cochrane review of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. These effects tended to ease over time.

The National Academies found moderate evidence of more coughing and wheezing in adolescents who vape, and an association with more asthma flare-ups.

Short-term Effects on the Respiratory System

Short-term cough is common when people start vaping. Serious adverse events in the regulated nicotine products studied in trials were rare.

Illicit or THC vaping products are different. In 2019, a serious lung injury outbreak called EVALI was strongly linked to vitamin E acetate in THC products, mostly from informal sources.

Long-term Effects on the Respiratory System

The long-term effects of vaping on the lungs are not yet known. As of the National Academies review, there was no available evidence on whether e-cigarettes cause respiratory diseases in humans.

The same review found limited evidence that smokers with asthma who switch to vaping may see some improvement in lung function and symptoms. For adults who switch completely from smoking, exposure to many toxicants drops.

"Popcorn lung" (bronchiolitis obliterans) is linked to diacetyl in occupational settings. The CDC lists diacetyl as a flavoring found in some vapes, but no confirmed cases of popcorn lung from vaping have been established.

Other Factors That May Contribute to Coughing While Vaping

Nicotine Content

Higher nicotine strengths, especially freebase nicotine at high strength, can feel harsher on the throat. Nicotine-free liquids avoid that, but they still contain other chemicals that can irritate.

Sensitivity to Certain Ingredients

Some people find PG or certain flavorings irritating. If one e-liquid consistently makes you cough, that ingredient may be the reason.

Incorrect Vaping Technique

Former smokers often take a mouth-to-lung puff, drawing vapor into the mouth first. Inhaling straight to the lungs on a device not designed for it can feel harsh and trigger coughing.

A cough is not always caused by vaping. Colds, allergies, asthma, acid reflux, and a past smoking history can all cause a cough.

Tips to Minimize Coughing While Vaping

These tips are for adults who already vape, usually to stay off cigarettes. If you do not smoke, the best way to avoid a vaping cough is not to start.

Stay hydrated: PG and VG draw moisture, so a dry mouth and throat are common. Drinking water may help.

Consider a lower nicotine strength: A lower strength can feel less harsh. If you switched from smoking, make sure it still controls cravings so you do not go back to cigarettes.

Try a different e-liquid: A higher-VG liquid or a different flavor may irritate less if one ingredient is the problem.

Use gentle puffs and keep the device clean: Take slow, steady puffs at a moderate power setting. Replace burnt coils or pods, since a burnt taste is harsh.

Use legal, regulated products: Avoid THC cartridges and products from informal sources, which were linked to the EVALI outbreak.

Please note that the information provided here is intended for general knowledge and should not replace professional medical advice. See a doctor for a cough that lasts more than a few weeks, or for coughing up blood, wheezing, chest pain, fever, or shortness of breath.

Conclusion

Coughing is a common short-term side effect of vaping, often from throat irritation, nicotine strength, ingredients, or technique. It frequently eases over time.

Long-term effects of vaping on the lungs are still unknown. Vaping is less harmful than smoking for adults who switch completely, but the healthiest choice is eventually to stop using nicotine altogether.

For more information on the potential risks of vaping and its impact on respiratory health, please visit our articles on vaping health concerns, risks of e-cigarettes, and long-term effects of vaping.

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