People who went from cigarettes to vaping: Have you noticed health improvements?

[SuperTaz]

While my lungs are much healthier since vaping it is my Periodontal disease that has seen the most results. When I smoked I always dealt with sore bleeding and infected gums. Periodontal disease cannot be cured it can only be controlled. I now have absolutely no symptoms!! I got a big congrats from my Periodontist. He is amazed at the progress since I quit analogs.

 

[skoony]

I don't think I am any better on good days, but I don't seem to have the bad days when I have to exert myself.

Don't use the MAX or RECIRC setting on your car air conditioning. Mold grows in the smoke film left inside the evaporator unit. You end up breathing the spores. I stopped getting springtime bronchitis years ago when I figured this out.

mold will grow any way. that's why
you have to hose it down on a yearly basis.
regards
mike

 

[Iffy]

Have you noticed health improvements?

Being 68 yy, my e-cig health benefits have been:

- Lower blood pressure - 15 pt drop in both systolic & diastolic BP
- Higher O₂ absorption - 92% to 99%
- 'Clean' chest x-ray after a past indication of emphysema
- Healthier gums/whiter teeth - as per dentist
- No more nose soot/lung wads in the AM
- No longer having the occasional mild night time anxiety episode due to breathing difficulties
- No mo’ colds. Used to get 'em at least once a year that hung on with major coughing and chest congestion. Last year I had a runny nose for five days... no cold. Prior to vaping, that would have developed into a major chest racking cold.
- Higher sensitivity to the salt in processed foods. And to think I would add salt in my 'bakky days.
- Higher IQ - hey, I did quit smoking!

 

[jambi]

30 year, pad + smoker.

Quit on June 11, 2014. Exclusive vaping since then. Also since that date, I've managed to lose around 40 lbs. I wouldn't say vaping is directly responsible for the weight loss, but I think that in helping me to quit smoking, it gave me the wherewithal to tend to my food intake as well. Smoking was causing me loads of mental anguish...I was really resigned to being powerless over it. Beating it has given me the ambition to improve other areas of my life as well.

Anyway...
Noticed improvements:

Chronic cough is gone.
Morning wheezing is gone.
Constantly clearing my throat is gone.
Ear/nose/throat related illnesses (sore throat/common cold variety) which plagued me when smoking are gone.
My voice is a lot healthier sounding (say those who hear it constantly).
Strange, unsettling sensations in my chest (not strong enough to be called pain, but nevertheless discomforting) have diminished. I still feel occasional tightness in my upper chest, but when I 'pop' my breastbone, it goes away. I think it's stress/muscle related.

I still get an occasional (painful) leg or foot muscle cramp, but nowhere near as many as I used to. When I do get them, the pain is far less intense. I drink a lot more water now than I used to, I think that has a lot to do with it.

Used to get winded just walking across the street to buy cigs . Now walking, uphill, downhill, stairs, whatever, is no issue. Also, I can run again. I mean, I can sprint for a block with my dog and actually keep up with her, and I actually feel good after. When I smoked, I wouldn't even consider running unless it was for my life.

I think losing the weight was key to the more cardiac-related improvements. Hauling around that 40 extra lbs. AND smoking was just killing me.

 

[tj99959]

During these 4 years that I have been vaping I have only had one cold, no bronchial infections, no flues.

But the biggest benefit from vaping instead of smoking for me:
Last Friday I made reservation for a luxury suite in Park City for our 50th wedding anniversary (May 1st). If I had continued to smoke, my wife would probably have to have placed flowers on my grave to mark the date.
Now she will probably have to put up with me for another decade or two.

 

[sofarsogood]

I started vaping in early october, zero cigs starting 6 weeks later. I have a 40+ year old sports related overuse injury in a hip joint with inflamation that progressed very slowly to the point where a long walk would be uncomfortable. Just in the past few months that annoyance has regressed 10 years. I'm speculating that my ability to heal and recuperate imporoved enough to reduce that inflamation.

There have been some psychological changes that are at least as important. My self esteeme is way up. That has a positive effect on my relationships with everybody I know and everybody I meet.

 

[catalinaflyer]

For the last 10 years of my smoking journey I got bronchitis EVERY winter, usually in January and most times it would persist into pneumonia. For the last 5 years my blood pressure began the creep north to the point where I had to start taking medication but that only slowed to creep till finally it got high enough I failed my twice annual physical for work (yes I have to get a comprehensive physical every 6 months.). Aug 3rd 2013 I had my last cigarette, December 12th I passed my physical with flying colors WITHOUT medication (I also cut out salt from my diet so not giving 100% credit to vaping) and lastly, second January past since switching to vaping and not even a sniffle, no bronchitis, no pneumonia, no cold nothing.

I'm no scientist or doctor but in my own personal clinical trial vaping has helped my health tremendously!!

 

[Tortus]

Even after 2 months when I take a deep breath it feels like the air's going in faster and easier. I guess about a year ago it began to feel labored. It's also the first time in quite a while I haven't had a horrible cold or bronchitis in February. Every year it got worse. I have to wonder if vaping could even be speeding up the healing process in some way, as in the moisture helping flush out the lungs?

Glad to hear so many success stories.

 

[issy]

My blood pressure dropped, and it was excellent to begin with. I stopped coughing, esp. the early morning fits were a change. The weight lifted off of my chest, and I have my anxiety much more under control now. My mouth also feels much more healthy! I only smoked for a handful of years, but I could sure tell. So glad we're all vaping now!

 

[LavaLampHero]

After smoking for 7 years, 5 of which where a pack a day I started to notice the bad effects. I blew it off as "well I am smoking after all." It finally dinged on me when i picked up running. I could get maybe a few hundred yards and felt like dying. Couldnt breathe right or catch my breath, I also had that morning cough which was sucked. I started vaping about a month ago and ive noticed significantly my health returning.

The first week i was still coughing but i was coughing stuff up like lung juice and lost cigarette borutts. Started to notice i could smell better. Food tasted better and my boss even told me I dont smell like smoke anymore. Second week my breathing during running was getting more stable and I could actually get a few miles in. As of now Im enjoying vaping and the possibility of living longer.

As to the lung infections, ive read that the PG in e-juice is actually a bactericide so it will probably help with that. They give it to hospital patients for pneumonia (or so ive heard)

 

[VHRB2014]

You can through the ...... away!

(Not that "I" ever needed it, LOL)

 

[dhood]

After 40 years+ of smoking, I've been smoke free for almost 6 months. I can breathe better, I can taste things again, I smell better. Shoot, the liquids taste so good, I've cut back on my sugar intake and actually lost weight. The biggest thing I notice is the lack of coughing. That cleared up a couple of weeks after I stopped cigs. A couple of weeks ago, my granddaughter came down with croup. My wife got sick from exposure to her and has had a nasty cold since. She is a smoker and I constantly hear her cough. She coughs herself to sleep and spends the first half hour after waking coughing - while she is smoking her first cigarette of the day. I've been exposed to both of them and I have absolutely no symptoms. I wonder if the PG has something to do with that. I'm trying to get the wifey to move to vaping but it will take time.

 

[inspects]

I have diabetes, I've noticed I don't crave sweets when I vape a sweet juice, win-win...!

Plus I can breath better, taste, smell, its absolutely unreal.

 

[corn flakes]

Been vaping 2 months, smoke free almost 3 weeks.

I just feel better, breathing better. Just shovelled the driveway and wasn't out of breath.

 

[LiquidElectron]

I'll be honest, I feel worse so far. I'll be honest again, it's only been...however many days it says in my sig. 8? I'm not trying to keep track. I vape about 2ml a day of 12mg, which has prevented my #1 cold-turkey symptom of headaches. But the last two days have been awful.

I have terrible pains in my left shoulder, but intermittently. I might have slept on it wrong. (I have had anxiety/panic for 20+ years, so pain and I are not friends).
I notice my depression level has gone way up.
My hands are freezing almost all day. That might be the weather.
I don't seem to want to eat anything.
(Sorry but) I'm so bottled up I'm considering colonoscopy-strength laxatives. (Not really.) (Maybe.)

My anxiety is through the roof. I can't stop thinking about how ironic it would be to conquer smoking but go ahead and develop some heart problem a week later. That's what my life is like, though.

On the plus side, vaping tastes a lot better and no one in the house minds it at all. I'm not going to step up my nic, because I know it will make my anxiety blow up out of control. I'm probably going to lower it when I get some new juice budgeted next week. It's all kind of a mess for me right now. My mood is awful from all of the above plus the discovery of how terrible my week old tanks are (they leak and spit, and I've done everything short of...well, I've done everything). But I'm hoping the new vapemail of my shiny istick 30w and my new Subtank nano will help me 1) hit less and 2) let me easily go down to 6mg...or lower.

I'm not giving up, though. I can't go back.

 

[inspects]

I'll be honest, I feel worse so far. I'll be honest again, it's only been...however many days it says in my sig. 8? I'm not trying to keep track. I vape about 2ml a day of 12mg, which has prevented my #1 cold-turkey symptom of headaches. But the last two days have been awful.

I have terrible pains in my left shoulder, but intermittently. I might have slept on it wrong. (I have had anxiety/panic for 20+ years, so pain and I are not friends).
I notice my depression level has gone way up.
My hands are freezing almost all day. That might be the weather.
I don't seem to want to eat anything.
(Sorry but) I'm so bottled up I'm considering colonoscopy-strength laxatives. (Not really.) (Maybe.)

My anxiety is through the roof. I can't stop thinking about how ironic it would be to conquer smoking but go ahead and develop some heart problem a week later. That's what my life is like, though.

On the plus side, vaping tastes a lot better and no one in the house minds it at all. I'm not going to step up my nic, because I know it will make my anxiety blow up out of control. I'm probably going to lower it when I get some new juice budgeted next week. It's all kind of a mess for me right now. My mood is awful from all of the above plus the discovery of how terrible my week old tanks are (they leak and spit, and I've done everything short of...well, I've done everything). But I'm hoping the new vapemail of my shiny istick 30w and my new Subtank nano will help me 1) hit less and 2) let me easily go down to 6mg...or lower.

I'm not giving up, though. I can't go back.

Think positive, you can do it....!

And you will...!!!

 

[drunkenbatman]

I have terrible pains in my left shoulder, but intermittently. I might have slept on it wrong. (I have had anxiety/panic for 20+ years, so pain and I are not friends).
I notice my depression level has gone way up.
My hands are freezing almost all day. That might be the weather.
I don't seem to want to eat anything.
(Sorry but) I'm so bottled up I'm considering colonoscopy-strength laxatives. (Not really.) (Maybe.)

I got nothing on the pains and freezing, but you really need to be on the lookout for depression when you stop smoking, and both it and and the constipation are classic withdrawal signs.

The normal suggestion would be to either vaping more to get your levels up so you can even out naturally, or bump up your nicotine so you can slowly decrease, but you've said you don't want to do that because it'd cause your anxiety to go through the roof. You may be right, but can I ask why you're thinking this, as increased anxiety is also a classic withdrawal symptom?

Additionally, you might look into WTAs (whole tobacco alkaloids). Nicotine is just one of the alkaloids in tobacco, and when they purify it they generally leave the other 5% behind. There's zero science behind them having an affect with withdrawal, but many people swear by them as helping get them over that hump. And, even if it's placebo, if it helps get you over the hump then hey.

Hang in there mate, ask for whatever you need.

 

[englishmick]

I'll be honest, I feel worse so far. I'll be honest again, it's only been...however many days it says in my sig. 8? I'm not trying to keep track. I vape about 2ml a day of 12mg, which has prevented my #1 cold-turkey symptom of headaches. But the last two days have been awful.

I have terrible pains in my left shoulder, but intermittently. I might have slept on it wrong. (I have had anxiety/panic for 20+ years, so pain and I are not friends).
I notice my depression level has gone way up.
My hands are freezing almost all day. That might be the weather.
I don't seem to want to eat anything.
(Sorry but) I'm so bottled up I'm considering colonoscopy-strength laxatives. (Not really.) (Maybe.)

My anxiety is through the roof. I can't stop thinking about how ironic it would be to conquer smoking but go ahead and develop some heart problem a week later. That's what my life is like, though.

On the plus side, vaping tastes a lot better and no one in the house minds it at all. I'm not going to step up my nic, because I know it will make my anxiety blow up out of control. I'm probably going to lower it when I get some new juice budgeted next week. It's all kind of a mess for me right now. My mood is awful from all of the above plus the discovery of how terrible my week old tanks are (they leak and spit, and I've done everything short of...well, I've done everything). But I'm hoping the new vapemail of my shiny istick 30w and my new Subtank nano will help me 1) hit less and 2) let me easily go down to 6mg...or lower.

I'm not giving up, though. I can't go back.

Some people do seem to have a bunch of strange symptoms when they quit smoking. I guess it makes sense, after years of pushing huge quantities of serious chemicals into your system the body and mind have some major adjustments to make.

I feel for you. Coincidentally I've been getting horrible pain in my left shoulder as well. Sure it's just a coincidence though. Maybe when you quit you sleep better and don't move around so much, so you could be right about sleeping on it. My theory is that when I started vaping I was spending huge amounts of time on the computer, reading on this very site, with my left elbow resting on the chair arm. So I blame ECF for that one. Or it could just be arthritis.

The tanks get better too. You'll figure them out after a while. Hang in there, it will all get better.

Best part for me was that colds go away after a few days instead of moving down into my chest for weeks.

 

[DomDoobie]

I've noticed big improvement. I was waking up feeling like my lungs were on fire coughing and hacking my brains out while lighting a cigarette and having coffee. The brain finally said it's time this is insanity. I dont wake up coughing anymore and my lungs feel great ! I have my coffee and a vape in the morning and it's a pleasure ! I was running 10 miles while smokng a pack a day and it didn't bother me so much because of the running. I haven't been running lately because the weather has been crummy. Can't wait to see how the running goes now ! Best of all the city state and federal government is not getting my tax dollars !!!! They say to everyone quit smoking. If every smoker would quit the economy would crumble and the goverment would go broke ! That's why they are against vaping ! I saw a bumper sticker once and it said Dont Steal The Government Doesn't Like Competition. How true it is ! Now I'm going to live longer and be a burden to the health care system lmao

 

[chiliphil1]

I'll be honest, I feel worse so far. I'll be honest again, it's only been...however many days it says in my sig. 8? I'm not trying to keep track. I vape about 2ml a day of 12mg, which has prevented my #1 cold-turkey symptom of headaches. But the last two days have been awful.

I have terrible pains in my left shoulder, but intermittently. I might have slept on it wrong. (I have had anxiety/panic for 20+ years, so pain and I are not friends).
I notice my depression level has gone way up.
My hands are freezing almost all day. That might be the weather.
I don't seem to want to eat anything.
(Sorry but) I'm so bottled up I'm considering colonoscopy-strength laxatives. (Not really.) (Maybe.)

My anxiety is through the roof. I can't stop thinking about how ironic it would be to conquer smoking but go ahead and develop some heart problem a week later. That's what my life is like, though.

On the plus side, vaping tastes a lot better and no one in the house minds it at all. I'm not going to step up my nic, because I know it will make my anxiety blow up out of control. I'm probably going to lower it when I get some new juice budgeted next week. It's all kind of a mess for me right now. My mood is awful from all of the above plus the discovery of how terrible my week old tanks are (they leak and spit, and I've done everything short of...well, I've done everything). But I'm hoping the new vapemail of my shiny istick 30w and my new Subtank nano will help me 1) hit less and 2) let me easily go down to 6mg...or lower.

I'm not giving up, though. I can't go back.

I hear you, as an anxiety guy myself I completely understand what you're saying. Here is the deal, you are going through completely normal issues nothing is wrong, if you have pain it is because you are anxious. In the event of quitting smoking there are definitely physical issues that happen but when you add anxiety to the mix well then your mind is creating a lot of problems too. In reality you will have chest discomfort, this is because your lungs are getting rid of all the crap, you will notice things through your whole body because your circulation is coming back.. It is a big change, then there is the issue of not smoking which is an odd thing but you can create anxiety for yourself simply by being worried about not smoking anymore.. I would recommend you take your nicotine up to 18% to lessen the symptoms a little. Just like coming off of meds you need to taper from cigarettes, do 18 for a week or two and then step down. I understand you don't want to be too high but you also don't want to be too low, in the beginning it's a balance of finding what works so that you can quit. Switching to vaping should really be effortless you just have to find the right formula. If your doctor has given you any benzos like xanax I would recommend taking them during this time, trust me though it will pass and it gets better.

As far as long term, yes there are huge improvements, I have been off the cigs for about a year and a half and I am constantly amazed at how much easier things are. I race bicycles and I would ride when I smoked and it was terrible I would huff and puff my chest would burn it was bad, the first time I rode after quitting was amazing I barely even breathed hard, no lung pain it was great and it's gotten even better since then. I hate those people who tell us we haven't quit anything because we still use nicotine but I promise my body tells me a different story.