Concerned about my Blood pressure and cholesterol, vaping constantly...

[my4jewels]

I have been analog free for 9 days now, don't even want one. I used to smoke about 12-14 cigs a day, full flavor. Here's my question. I am on meds for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I started with 16-18mg strength, have a little 12mg in my favorite flavor. I have been vaping constantly because I just love the flavors, it's fun, and I imagine it's still a novelty. I am so excited to be smoke free!!! I am sooo satisfied vaping!!!! I got my ego with 900 batts yesterday, and I love vaping even more, don't even want to put it down. I am enjoying vaping dessert flavors even more than having desserts, so this will help as well because I need to lose weight. I have read that nicotine can raise blood pressure and add to high cholesterol. I eventually plan to cut my nicotine much lower, maybe even to 0%, but I know it will take some time if I don't want to mess this up.

In the meantime, how much can this hurt my health problems with my blood pressure and cholesterol issues? I don't have available devices to measure my BP and it's $25 copay to go to the doc's to have it checked. What have your experiences been?

Gosh, I love vaping, just love it!!!!!

 

[mohawkx]

Not near as much as smoking 12-14 cigarettes per day would. Most ppl vape more than they smoked when they first start. Show some self control and vape at the same pace you would if it were an analog. You should taper off sson enough, naturally.

 

[jj2]

My cholesterol hasn't changed.
As for the blood pressure, see your doctor if you feel any different.
I did mine and he had to LOWER my meds because it was running too low.
Actually you should see him if you don't feel any different. If it's the same, no big deal. If it's higher, you'll know but too low can cause health issues too.

 

[MsBree]

Congrats on your 9 days!!!! WooooHooooooo You can always go to your local pharmacy (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens...even Walmart) and check your BP there for free, anytime!!! Most pharmacies offer this....I always check mine when I'm in one of those stores picking up something!!! Always good to be on top of this anyway!!!!

 

[cactusgirl]

My blood pressure has decreased significantly since I switched to vaping. Personally, I think it has a lot do with the decreased carbon monoxide than anything else.

 

[mohawkx]

As a matter of fact, I should mention that I also am on cholesteral and BP medicine and after 2 mos of vaping, my dr lowered my bp meds dose by half.

 

[DiggerP]

Hi My4 and grats on the 9 days! Many many more to come for you I hope!

Just an idea if your pressure is a concern. My blood pressure continually kept creeping up during my analog days and I was running borderline medication-time. My doctor CONSTANTLY got on me about smoking.

When I told her I switched to vaping -- would she mind testing my blood pressure after a few weeks -- she said "Nope -- get in here right now... let's get a baseline and I'll see you as often as you can come in -- every day if you'd like."

Since then my "normal" 139/95 BP has dropped to 120/80 almost on the nose. My pulse at rest from 84 to 72. And she has a chart to prove it.

I don't think she can actually recommend vaping to other patients due to possible liability issues (no long term studies yet) -- but I wouldn't be surprised if she does.

My long winded point is -- ask your doctor! He or she might absolutely love having you as a free guinea pig. The alternate is analogs and that's a known calamity.

 

[quittin4mykids]

my miagraines have cut themselves down SOOO much since I quit smoking- and 98% of mine were associated with my blood prssure being too high- and the ones that I have gotten since I quit were easier to get rid of with meds. which for me means that smoking make mine show up more (raising my blood pressure I guess) and would interfear with the meds to stop the headaches.

 

[cookiebun]

My BP has dropped from a medical emergency level of 220/135 to 117/70. Don't know what my cholesterol level is, don't care.
You can buy a decent BP cuff for about $25. No need to go to the Dr for that.
I started vaping at 18mg and have dropped to 12-8mg. I use a lot of 0 nic too.
If you think nicotine is raising your BP you CAN wean yourself off nicotine. I'm happy with 0 nic for more than half the day.
Cutting out excess salt will do wonders for your BP too. Read food labels, look up restaurant nutrition facts online. It's amazing how much salt is put into our food. I've lost about 20 lbs since I started watching the salt and vaping.

Congrats on dumping the analogs. I love sweet flavors too.

 

[Bozzlite]

I have had no increase in BP or cholesterol since I started vaping 10 months ago.

On the other hand, I have had no decrease in BP or cholesterol either. My BP has been on the high side for the last 5 years and I am on a couple of meds for it.

 

[JW50]

Don't mean to be the naysayer but I don't think vaping is going to improve blood pressure and cholesterol conditions. There is the possibility that vaping as compared to smoking might be helpful but you indicate you are using/consuming nicotine. And, depending upon how much vaping you are doing you may be putting more nicotine into your system that before. The 12-14 full flavor cigs that you mention suggest you were possibly putting 12-14 mg of nicotine per day into your system while smoking. CO - don't know. But bear in mind that those mg numbers of e-juice are mg per ml. So if you are vaping 3ml of juice per day and using 18mg juice, you are possibly putting 54mg of nicotine into your system. Some will question the 54 and say that maybe its really only 27 but I don't think there are enough facts on the issue to know exactly. (There really is no certainty on the 12-14mg number that I suggest as the smoking amount. Smoke cigs may supply less than 1mg per cigarette.) I would suggest that you try not to increase on the nic level of before. BP devices are not that expensive (less than most e-cig kits) and are easy to use. Might be good investment.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Hello and welcome to ecf...
Here is some helpful info I think all new members should read.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ing-your-symptoms-while-adjusting-vaping.html

 

[Bozzlite]

JW 50, it didn't improve for me.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Don't mean to be the naysayer but I don't think vaping is going to improve blood pressure and cholesterol conditions. There is the possibility that vaping as compared to smoking might be helpful but you indicate you are using/consuming nicotine. And, depending upon how much vaping you are doing you may be putting more nicotine into your system that before. The 12-14 full flavor cigs that you mention suggest you were possibly putting 12-14 mg of nicotine per day into your system while smoking. CO - don't know. But bear in mind that those mg numbers of e-juice are mg per ml. So if you are vaping 3ml of juice per day and using 18mg juice, you are possibly putting 54mg of nicotine into your system. Some will question the 54 and say that maybe its really only 27 but I don't think there are enough facts on the issue to know exactly. (There really is no certainty on the 12-14mg number that I suggest as the smoking amount. Smoke cigs may supply less than 1mg per cigarette.) I would suggest that you try not to increase on the nic level of before. BP devices are not that expensive (less than most e-cig kits) and are easy to use. Might be good investment.

It is generally accepted that you only get 10-40% of the nic that you vape...that is because it is in the juice and not a straight hit as with an analog.....
think of it this way.

analog ----shot of whiskey---feel it instantly----absorbed heavily in the lungs
ecig -----beer - most of nic is absorbed in the mouth and nose and throat area at a much slower rate... this is why some newbies don't think they are getting any nic at all when starting out because it takes longer to get into the system

 

[my4jewels]

Thanks so much evryone for your responses. I'll try to remember to check my bloodpressure more when I'm out at the store, and I'll be going to have my cholesterol checked in about 2 months. I was simply wondering what people's experiences were after vaping longer than I have.

I am very fortunate that I haven't been noticing any increase in my appetite, and I don't seem to be getting any of the usual withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking. At first, I flew into panic when my batteries were blinking which is why I switched to an eGo with a few 900mAh batts. All set now. If anything, I'm already feeling that it's easier to breathe when I exert myself, but nothing at all negative in any way. I find vaping very satisfying, and don't really miss my analogs in any way, but you won't be able to pry my eGo out of my hand. LOL. This subject seems to be as individual as we are.

 

[Stevew443]

I have been under a doctor's care for high blood pressure too. The funny thing is... when I quit smoking and started vaping my blood pressure went up. This did not appear to be due to the nicotine in the juices.
You can get an inexpensive blood pressure cuff from Wally World to keep an eye on your own BP. I have noticed that my BP tends to go up a fair amount when I go to the doctor's office. Something that is called White Coat Hypertension.

 

[JW50]

It is generally accepted that you only get 10-40% of the nic that you vape...that is because it is in the juice and not a straight hit as with an analog.....
think of it this way.

analog ----shot of whiskey---feel it instantly----absorbed heavily in the lungs
ecig -----beer - most of nic is absorbed in the mouth and nose and throat area at a much slower rate... this is why some newbies don't think they are getting any nic at all when starting out because it takes longer to get into the system

Can't say you're wrong (because there just isn't enough reliable research on the matter to know) but I think some of the numbers you quote are derived from mangled tobacco research. For tobacco cigs I think the generally accepted belief is that about 10% of the nicotine in the dry weight of the tobacco makes its way to the lungs of the smoker. The other 90% is cast off as second hand smoke or is burned or modified in the combustion process. In your analogy I think the nicotine in the tobacco leaf is more like beer and the refined pure stuff that is put in e-liquid is the whiskey. But presume your numbers are right. Where did other 60 to 90% of the nicotine go. It wasn't combusted like in analogs. It was heated to a vapor. When it cools it condenses and nicotine can be absorbed through the skin and membranes in its liquid form. In fact, it may be that the vapor as it hits the linings of the mouth and throat condenses and is simply absorbed there and may not even makes it way to the lungs. And if your 60 to 90% numbers are right, "second hand vapor" is a major problem. Maybe that "second hand vapor" makes is way to the floors of your kitchen - where it condenses - to be absorbed by crawling babies. Then there is the preliminary research that is currently coming out of Virginia that is suggesting that vapers can get as high on nicotine as chain smokers. I think more research is needed and there is possible some underway now, sponsored by the e-cig vendor industry and by e-cig users. Perhaps some other members can provide some details on that research.

 

[Mudder]

Welcome to ECF and the wonderful world of vaping. Congrats on 9 days free.

LOL White coat hypertension. Love it!!

I've always had good blood pressure, and my cholesterol is better than excellent according to my doctors. Which is something you'd think would be the opposite for a smoker who could afford to lose more than a few pounds. I'm curious to know what it is now that I vape, I'll have to have it checked. Interesting.

 

[JW50]

Oversight - welcome and congratulations for being smoke free for 9 days - approaching 10. I fully believe you will be better of health wise for your decision. But please bear in mind - vaping is not risk free. Moderation is my advice. Just enough to keep the analogs unbought and unused.

 

[cleolove]

I second MsBree .. almost all chain pharmacies have a free blood pressure check machinem even my local Thrifty White has one. Also, any fire station would probably do it for you free, but you might want to call first. Call the State public heath department and ask where you can get your bp checked free.