Coughing is probably the most common side effect of vaping. But contrary to popular perception, coughing while vaping is not necessarily a consequence of lung damage. In most cases, it has a lot to do with how you vape.
However, coughing while vaping can ruin your entire vaping experience. If every puff you take causes irritation at the back of your throat, you may begin to think that vaping is probably not for you. This means that if you were trying vaping as a smoking-cessation aid, it might only be a matter of time before you go back to your smoking ways.
But coughing doesn’t have to make you give up vaping. Not when there are scores of tips that you can implement to reduce or stop vaping-induced coughing.
Read on as we unpack the top tips to stop coughing when you vape.
A vaporizer
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Vegetable glycerin (VG) and propyl glycol (PG) are the two most popular components of an e-juice. Increasing the amounts of vegetable glycerin in your vape juice allows you to experience smoother hits, thereby reducing throat irritation.
Raise VG levels while consequently lowering PG in your e-juice until you can vape without coughing at all. If it comes down to it, consider vaping e-liquids formulated with 100% vegetable glycerin.
However, note that vape juices that contain very high VG amounts tend to be harsher on atomizers.
Adjusting the VG: PG ratio in your e-juice isn’t enough. Sometimes, the cough may be triggered by certain flavors.
So, if the cough persists even after upping the amounts of VG in your vape juice, you might want to try different flavors. Generally, tobacco and dessert-like flavors tend to be easier on the throat compared to strong menthols and citrusy flavors.
If you’re a new vaper, the conventional wisdom is to start with vape juices that are formulated with fewer flavors. That way, you’ll easily identify the specific flavors that irritate your throat.
An assortment of vaporizers
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While the composition of your e-juice might cause you to cough while vaping, coughing could also result from how you vape. There are two major inhalation styles, including mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct to lung (DTL).
Mouth-to-lung entails taking vapor into your mouth in one inhale and then taking another inhale to drive the vapor down into your lungs. It’s the most popular vaping style and is particularly popular among new vapers. But since you have to gather vapor in your mouth first before swallowing it, there are high chances that MTL vaping will cause throat irritation. Fortunately, there’s the option of experimenting with direct-to-lung vaping, where you inhale vapor from your e-cig and drive it straight into your lungs in one step.
It’s also important to remember that the method you choose will determine the kind of vape accessories to buy. As you shall find, devices with an MTL vape tank require higher-resistance coils, operate at lower wattages, and generally feature restricted airflow. On the other hand, DTL devices run at higher wattages, come with lower resistance, and often have higher airflow.
Another way you can stop coughing when you vape is by lowering the nicotine levels in your e-juice. It’s generally observed that higher nicotine strengths are harsher on the throat. Experts recommend consuming e-juices with nicotine strengths between 0.3% and 0.6%. But if this still doesn’t work for you, feel free to reduce the strengths even further.
Reducing the levels of nicotine in your e-juice not only helps to stop coughing, it’s also useful for vapers who are trying to give up cigarette smoking. By experimenting with lower nicotine strengths gradually, you’ll eventually be able to tame the cravings for cigarette smoking, which are largely attributed to the addictive nature of nicotine. With time, you’ll even be able to smoke nicotine-free e-liquids, such as those formulated with cannabidiol oil.
However, note that reducing nicotine levels affects your throat hit. Therefore, the convention is to vape e-liquids that contain the highest nicotine strengths that you find enjoyable.
A vaper sucking from a vaporizer
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It doesn’t matter whether you follow all the other recommendations or not. If you don’t invest in quality vape accessories, your vaping experience will be anything but enjoyable.
First up, always purchase your vape accessories from reliable vendors. And that includes both e-cig attachments as well as your vape juices.
If you’re struggling to find a reliable retailer, insist on those with a fairly long industry presence. When it comes to vape juices, only buy from suppliers whose products have undergone third-party lab tests. Also, read the ingredients list carefully to familiarize yourself with the active components of an e-juice before buying it.
After purchasing high-quality vape accessories, remember to implement the necessary settings. For instance, always vape in low wattage to prevent overheating your vape juice, resulting in the production of harsher clouds. Also, adjust the airflow to ensure you’re inhaling the right amount of vapor each time. Lastly, always vape in moderation to give your throat ample time to recover between vaping sessions.
A woman savoring her vaping experience
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Coughing is one of the most annoying concerns while vaping. But it’s reassuring to know that you can fix the problem and boost your vaping experience. Try to implement the above-highlighted tips and if the problem persists, stop vaping and consult your doctor.
