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

[DaveP]

Congratulations Tortus! The longer you are off the cigs and vaping the better it gets.

I've been vaping for 5 years and I quit most of my cigs the first week or two. About 3 years ago I quit those last 6 a day and for the last three years I've been doing free weight and machine exercises about 5 days a week. I do 7 sets of arm exercises with a curl bar and 40 pounds of weight, 20 reps of each, several sets on the Total Gym, and a 6 mile ride on the stationary bike tapering up to 80% resistance and back down during a 30 minute ride.

Your health will improve as your body recovers from smoking. vaping is pretty much benign health wise as most of us have discovered. Our doctors are happy with how vaping allowed us to give up cigarettes. Most doctors don't ever bug us about vaping like they did with cigs. Mine applauded my decision to give up a 2PAD habit and vape 5 years ago. He watched as I eventually gave up cigarettes and never went back.

 

[93gc40]

Other than teeth being less yellow, NO. Smoked almost 40 years. Never had health issues from smoking, that I know of.

 

[renacer]

After 3 months vaping, no more smokers' cough and I can hold my breath for an extra 10 seconds.

 

[CMD-Ky]

No, I have not experienced any improvement that I can document. However, I am seventy and smoked for fifty-one years. I have vaped exclusively for around nine months and will continue to do so in order to minimize further damage. I have, however, experienced an improved general sense of well-being but I can't quantify that.

 

[MattyTny]

I'm still young, but I've smoked for about 4-5 years buying a pack or two a week. The biggest difference I noticed health wise is that when I get sick, URI or flu like symptoms, my cough is not as bad and my throat is not as raw. I also noticed vaping while sick (how sick depends on if I vape) is not nearly as harsh, as opposed to choking on cigarette smoke. Also, the nicotine buzz is a lot cleaner.

 

[Tortus]

I love getting up in the morning and taking the first vape. I have some that's like drinking a cup of mocha flavored coffee. It doesn't give that dirty buzz that a cigarette did.

On a side note, as much as it seems to help people who've made the transition, I hope it's not going to be a losing battle. I've heard people say they can't vape because their job considers it smoking, an if they test positive for nicotine their health insurance goes way up. You can't even work at some places if you test positive. Just recently two of my cousins, my brother, and myself gave up cigarettes for vaping. Can't believe I waited this long; I'd been a smoker for 15 years. Hopefully those numbers will continue to grow and more people will realize it's the poison in the cigarettes causing health problems, not the nicotine.

Love hearing everyone's experiences. Stories like ours should be published in scientific journals if they're not already.

 

[PapaSloth]

Smoked for 32 years, started vaping 6 months ago. I no longer wake up in the middle of the night with a chest full of gunk, feeling like if I don't cough it all out, that I'll suffocate. Also, when I walk past a smoker, I can tell instantly that they smoke. I never realized how strong it was before, and that I probably smelled like that too. Also, my blood pressure has gone down from borderline high to high normal, with no other change in diet, exercise, or anything else. I can taste my food better.

 

[ncolwell]

I smoked on and off for about seven years. Most of that time was "on." I suffered with many of the things most smokers deal with every fall/winter/early spring. Frequent colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. You name it, I got it. It was always horrible too, sometimes even requiring me to sleep in an upright position just so I wouldn't cough all night and keep my hubby up. Even having a humidifier in the room and prescription cough medicine didn't help me.

Last March I switched to vaping. About one week later, I had a cold (which I now know was just my sinuses clearing themselves out). About three weeks after that I had another cold (I think this was the same thing). Since then? Nothing. No colds, no bronchitis, no coughing. It's been an amazing transition, and I'm almost 1 year analog free. I'll never go back, that's for sure!

 

[Frenchfry1942]

I can smell, taste and breathe better. My doctor knows and he approved the switch, but then he told me that, although nicotine is similar to caffeine, to much of anything is not good. I took it as a step in the right direction. My dentist, I did not tell, but, at my check-up he said that my gums looked a lot healthier than previously.

Vaping is not perfect, but it is a lot better.

Oh, I don't have to go out in the cold and I don't stink.

 

[Deryan3]

Not a whole lot i can add that others haven't mentioned already. I have been enjoying a much more healthier lifestyle than when i smoked cigarettes... continue on your journey and you will as well notice more and more benefits

 

[Charming]

I can now shovel snow, a very handy ability this week; pffft! I've only been off the cigs for 9 weeks but I see many improvements already. There's no more coughing, , stairs are no longer problematic, no chest colds or respiratory infections as of yet this winter (*knockin' on wood) and much more energy in general. Even my dogs seem more energetic. I expect things will just keep getting better. All this after 40 years of almost 2 PAD. I honestly am amazed and feel as though I may have dodged the proverbial bullet. Time will tell.

 

[DaveP]

I may have already mentioned it, but after almost 40 years of smoking a pack or two a day, then vaping for 5 years, I'm able to work out without huffing and puffing. I do over 150 reps several times a week with free weights and the Total Gym, followed by a 6 mile stationary bike ride that peaks at 80% resistance. I couldn't even think about doing that when I was smoking.

My recent chest X-ray for a cold with fever and bronchitis was read by the doctor as normal ... no anomalies. I have copies on DVD and they match the Google images for what a normal X-ray should look like. Vaping has allowed my nicotine and tar coated lungs to heal over time.

 

[Bookworm]

I recently got bronchitis after being exposed to a lot of dust. I am really allergic to dust, and it's no surprise that it settled into my chest. But instead of hanging around for a month or two like it did when I was a smoker, the bronchitis worked it's way out in under 5 days. I had no antibiotics or inhalers, just lots of fluids and rest, and no vaping. A couple of years ago, I would have needed antibiotics and steroids. Now, my body heals itself.

 

[MrsMojoRisin]

Yup....

I have noticed huge improvements in my health in the last 3 or so years since I switched to vaping. Before I quit smoking I was still very healthy, I try to exercise religiously so when P90X came out I decided to give it a shot. I did it, but it was really tough and I was taking smoke breaks either between workouts (on ab days) or as soon as I was done. I even remember wondering to myself if I was doing more damage by smoking + p90X because I would take huge drags deep into my lungs after working out. I decided to make the switch to vaping between rounds so I quit smoking, waited about 3 months, and tried again. The difference was astounding. Workouts were easier, I wasn't so tired afterword, I didn't lose my breath as much, and I saw results immediately.

I don't do P90X anymore, I got way too muscular, I still workout but I've switched to yoga which focuses on breathwork. I even run every night, something I wasn't able to do since high school. So, yes, I have noticed huge improvements in health.

 

[bullet08]

i just walked up 3 stairs and i'm not winded. that's first in long time. yeah... so my lung and general cardio seems to be getting better. have to work on those leg muscles..

 

[tjcraig]

I smoked analogs for about twelve years. Probably half way through that time I noticed I would get a stuffy nose every night and usually have to blow my nose in the morning. I always attributed it to drinking alcohol because it'd be worse when I drank, but then I realized it was only worse because my analog intake would increase when I was drinking. I've been analog-free for about four months and I just realized recently that I don't get a stuffy nose anymore and I don't have any congestion unless I get a cold. I completely got used to barely being able to breathe every night so it's awesome that I can breathe seamlessly 24 hours a day now

 

[bluecat]

Been vaping a little over 2.5 years. Now I will say I was trying to quit prior to picking up vaping. I notice no difference in smoking and vaping. I smoked roughly 30 years. Doesn't really how many packs per day because it changed so much as I always was trying to quit.

I still get nasty sinus infections and crazy allergies... welcome to the Ohio Valley though.

 

[klynnn]

I have been vaping a bit over 3 years. I smoked 47 years. I was getting to the point I was coughing all the time especially in the mornings. I had bronchitis that went into pneumonia twice a year. I lost at least a week to 10 days of work every time I got sick. This happened for years. I have always been one to not take any meds unless it was absolutely necessary. When I started vaping the first week I got sick and spent a week in bed. Now I think I must have been detoxing because after that I have not had so much as a cold in the last couple years. I vape a high pg liquid and feel that has something to do with it but of course I'm not a scientist. I really think the pg aspect of vaping needs to be explored. Of course people who don't need big PHarma as a bed partner are not a real moneymaker these days.

 

[Kingboomer]

I haven't had a cig since October 2013, and I've never felt better. I smoked the nails for about 22 years prior. I've definitely noticed some improvements: food tastes better, I have more energy, I'm breathing MUCH better and my sense of smell has greatly improved. Now there's no studies I'm aware of relating smoking to heartburn, but I haven't even had to use any antacids in about the last year, big plus in my book! Stick with it and reap the benefits!


-Kingboomer

 

[chinolofus]

after a yr without smoking i havent noticed any difference whatsoever.