Y'all bring up something interesting I haven't given much thought to. I do wellness screenings for many company health fairs. Employees are required to answer yes or no to health questions, one being do you smoke. If they say yes, no problem, next question. If they say no, we have to swab their cheek and have them hold the swab under their tongue until it turns blue. Then, it's sent out to a lab to test for nicotine. My husband's employer, whom I'm insured with, pretty much goes by honor system. They ask if you smoke on their web site questionnaire. If you say no, they leave you alone, but if you say yes, their health coaches harass you to death. Their coaches have guided me through three failed attempts with Chantix. I finally told them I successfully quit just to stop the near daily phone calls.
His employer's insurance gives big incentives to quit smoking. Reduced premiums, reduced co-pays, and an extra $200.00/year in the Healthworks spending account that you can use to pay for OTC meds (I was using it to pay for lozenges and such). I had no issue with lying about it, but my husband practices a program of rigorous honesty. I don't know how he's kept quiet, (he could be fired for lying...I don't know if things are that detrimental for dependents lying) except that I do my own online questionnaire.
I'm wondering if that swab could detect vaping residues on our client's employees, and what that would mean for them. We never do blood tests for nicotine, just the swabs. I'm guessing positive...that bites. Doesn't seem fair to test for nicotine, when they've quit smoking.
About vasoconstriction. My B/P has always been extremely low...to the point of requiring vasoconstrictors during surgery for a B/P of 40/P and having to stay in SICU over night. I think it's a side effect of the mental meds that causes it. Funny thing is, when the doc increases my dose I get drowsy and smoke even more to combat the effects. He just cut my dose in half a month ago and I've been smoking less. The last time I quit smoking, I gained 70 lbs in six months and have only been able to lose half of that. (The hand to mouth thing I guess.) Another reason vaping might be my best solution.