Tight Chest Problem ?

[MykOne]

interesting I was having chest tightness too months ago, but I also get anxiety attacks when under heavy stress that gives me tightness in my chest so I chalked it up to that. Now I'm thinking maybe it was this menthol juice I was using. Also noticed when I used a higher nicotine at 24mg I got looped with a head buzz

 

[ReacT]

interesting I was having chest tightness too months ago, but I also get anxiety attacks when under heavy stress that gives me tightness in my chest so I chalked it up to that. Now I'm thinking maybe it was this menthol juice I was using. Also noticed when I used a higher nicotine at 24mg I got looped with a head buzz

I do know %100 about anxiety attacks + panic attacks, I had them for 6 months in my life, last year. That chest tightness due to anxiety and this one is completely different. My anxiety is very normal and my breath is normal too, i do stop vaping when it starts and it goes away after 30 mins. This clearly indicates that it is related to something in my juice, pg or vg or flavor.

Well, I am going to remove that irish cream, yeah it maybe diacetyl because when i vape whole day its ok, it starts at nights before going to bed usually. I dont know if that fa- irish cream has diacetyl or not, however I'm going to make nbase + only %5 tobacco blend and %80 VG + 9mg nic as i used to 2 weeks. If it happens again, I will try only nbase %100vg to test, if it is the same, i can be sure that it is VG. If its ok with nbase only, then i can be sure that it is PG. I will vape it whole day tomorrow when i wake up. Its the bed time for me now, lets see what will happen tomorrow night.

 

[klynnn]

I bought some irish cream flavoring recently and it burns my throat in any amount in my liquid. I won't use it now.

 

[Lori2014]

Hi, React

I am allergic to glycerine, so I vape 100% PG.

I have 3 set-ups - Joyetech 510, Kangertech EMUS, and Kangertech mini Protank 3. I have found that I get the most throat irritation with the Protank, the least with the 510 ... and none with the 510 using cartomizers. In other words, in my experience, the more vapour and throat hit a rig delivers, the more irritation it delivers. (I know nothing about variable voltage vapourizers, so I don't know how this would translate to dialing a number on your unit.) I have also found that I reduced the throat irritation by increasing the nicotine, and therefore decreasing the amount of time I spend actually vaping. I am currently using 21 mg nicotine. Since you were a heavy smoker, and are now using low nicotine, you might be "chain-vaping" ... ie, very little rest time between vape sessions.

I found it helpful to read the recommendations on the forum about how to vape ... it is different from how I smoked.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

Lastly, the irritation at night could be as much the added-up effect of a day's worth of vaping. When my throat was really bothering me, I found a spoonful of liquid honey helped. Now, with the cartomizers on the 510 I seldom have any throat irritation, but I still feel it when I vape any other device.

Good luck in tracking down what will work for you!

 

[Danie06]

I personally reacted very badly to the 80% VG I tried.
I was also vaping the typical buttery/creamy taste liquids (wont name them). I had chestpains, trouble breathing deep, ran out of breath when I tried to run etc.
Due to the whole diacetyl discussion i switched to a light tobacco flavour FA juice and all my chest/ breathing problems disappeared.
I've been vaping that now for 3 months and dont have any breathing/ chest problems anymore.
So it might be either the VG which doesnt seem to work very well for me, or the flavors.

I would try less VG and maybe some more neutral flavors.

 

[ReacT]

Hi, React

I am allergic to glycerine, so I vape 100% PG.

I have 3 set-ups - Joyetech 510, Kangertech EMUS, and Kangertech mini Protank 3. I have found that I get the most throat irritation with the Protank, the least with the 510 ... and none with the 510 using cartomizers. In other words, in my experience, the more vapour and throat hit a rig delivers, the more irritation it delivers. (I know nothing about variable voltage vapourizers, so I don't know how this would translate to dialing a number on your unit.) I have also found that I reduced the throat irritation by increasing the nicotine, and therefore decreasing the amount of time I spend actually vaping. I am currently using 21 mg nicotine. Since you were a heavy smoker, and are now using low nicotine, you might be "chain-vaping" ... ie, very little rest time between vape sessions.

I found it helpful to read the recommendations on the forum about how to vape ... it is different from how I smoked.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

Lastly, the irritation at night could be as much the added-up effect of a day's worth of vaping. When my throat was really bothering me, I found a spoonful of liquid honey helped. Now, with the cartomizers on the 510 I seldom have any throat irritation, but I still feel it when I vape any other device.

Good luck in tracking down what will work for you!

Hello Lori2014, Thanks for the information and yes i believe i was doing chain vaping if it is called vaping quickly after another yeah i do. Looks like i need to increase to 12mg, since i was with 18mg and i wasnt vaping this much. I am at 9mg now. The voltage ecig systems exactly allows you to configure the throat hit as well as the vapor. More voltage more Throat hit + vapor + irritate. For example i do get TH from %100 VG if i use 4.6 volt, if i reduce it to 3.8 no throat it, just like that. I generally use 4.4 or 4.2 volts during the day.

I personally reacted very badly to the 80% VG I tried.
I was also vaping the typical buttery/creamy taste liquids (wont name them). I had chestpains, trouble breathing deep, ran out of breath when I tried to run etc.
Due to the whole diacetyl discussion i switched to a light tobacco flavour FA juice and all my chest/ breathing problems disappeared.
I've been vaping that now for 3 months and dont have any breathing/ chest problems anymore.
So it might be either the VG which doesnt seem to work very well for me, or the flavors.

I would try less VG and maybe some more neutral flavors.

Danie06, thanks for the information. I am current testing that irish cream i used, lets see tonight. I removed the irish cream yesterday night and I started to vape only tobacco blend.

Today Udate:
Today, I made %80VG(as used to) and I started to vape only tobacco blend, I removed the irish cream. So far i dont have problem now, but lets see in the next few hours as it always starts at late nights. If it is ok for tonight and tomorrow, I can than blame the irish cream and diacetyl. If it happen again tonight, i will try %60 VG to test tomorrow or night.

 

[ReacT]

Today last update:
I think I found the chest pain / tight chest reasons. I'm not sure it is just 14 hours now and I will be sure after 2-3 days. Today, I started to vape only Tobacco blend + %30PG - %70VG 9MG, i really did a good and long vape + chain vapes to make sure and I have removed the irish cream yesterday night. I also realized that i was itching my self when i was using irish cream. So far, I dont have any tight chest, chest pain or any breathing problems now. So it looks like it was the damm irish cream or %80VG but i dont think %10 can make that much difference ? as i am on %70 vg now.

Thanks to Topwater Elvis and bm2112 about creamy juices and information. Especially the following helped me a lot

Cream flavors may have Diacetyl which could definitely cause some side effects similar to what you're experiencing. As for your flavoring %, couldn't help you there. Haven't tried it and everybody has their own desired flavor level.

So, it is irish cream may have diacetyl and was causing tight chest or i may have allergy to something in that irish cream not sure but most like diacetyl. It is already midnight and i am about to sleep, i didnt get any tight chest and i am so happy I will update after 2-3 days to make sure.

 

[ReacT]

Result:
Almost 3 days passed after i removed that irish cream, I have no any tight chest or chest pain. It is now clear that it was "irish cream" flavor i was using in my own liquids. If anyone have tight chest or chest pain, check your flavors or change your liquid. It is clear that some flavors(cream, cake, cracker) have diacetyl & Acetoin even some liquid companies say they are diacetyl free which is not as the containments are in the flavors which they are not aware. These containments are carcinogenic and dangerous for inhale. They can also cause allergy etc like i had. I was a live experiment, I have fixed the tight chest and breath problems by removing "irish cream" flavor, it was not related to PG or VG.

Thanks to everyone here helped me.

 

[mkbilbo]

Hello,
I'm new to ecig. I quit smoking 3 weeks ago, so I started to use ecig 3 weeks ago. The first week I was so happy and I was using 50/50 PG/VG. After that i started to get so dry throat and it was a pain on nights even i drink a lot of water. Then I switched to %100 VG, and last week a tight chest problem has started. I have also tried %80 VG but still the same. It usually happens at night after 2-3 puffs. I was on 18mg nicotin first week, then moved to 12mg and this week I am on 9mg and I am happy but this tight chest makes me sad and scare. I went to a doctor last week, they took x-ray and breath tests everything is fine.

- Can this be VG ? Does anybody who has long experience with ecig had this problem ?
- Can this be even %20 PG causing ?

I am also started to create my own juices which are awesome but I am really scared from this tight chest. It goes away if i dont use my ecig. I have all my equipments to create any type of juice, in case if you have suggestion ? I use diamond nbase and some flavors from FA and Parfumers etc... I use itaste v3.0 and iclear30s at 4.4 volt as my ecig.

I was smoking 2,5 packs marlboro lights per day which makes 50 single cig. per day. I really dont wanna back to those days that i was coughing every morning so bad, sore throat etc.. I never ever cough again the day i quit smoking and i feel so healtier than ever in my life except this tight chest every night.

I will be happy if someone who had this problem and solved, help me ?

Thank you very much and sorry for my English.

One thing to try is don't "lung inhale".

In smoking, you get the nicotine by drawing the smoke into your lungs. The little gas exchange bits in the lungs (that pick up the oxygen and push out the carbon dioxide) absorb the nicotine quickly into the blood stream.

With vaping, you absorb the nicotine mostly in your mouth and nose. The water droplets of vapor are bigger than smoke particles and don't "fit" the small gas exchange bits down in the lungs. Not well. So you don't get so much nicotine that way.

Try treating it more like pipe or cigar smoking and "puff". Let the flavor be your guide. The lungs have no taste buds so don't inhale deep. Slow things down and hold the vapor more in your mouth. Maybe exhale nasally (the sense of smell is involved in taste so you can pick up more flavor and nicotine that way). Even if it means you have to vape "more". That's okay. The nicotine is absorbed more slowly so it seems to me new folks always "chain vape" at first. But I think that's because you're trying to adjust to a new way of getting your nicotine and you start by vaping a lot until your habits settle down.

 

[ReacT]

One thing to try is don't "lung inhale".

In smoking, you get the nicotine by drawing the smoke into your lungs. The little gas exchange bits in the lungs (that pick up the oxygen and push out the carbon dioxide) absorb the nicotine quickly into the blood stream.

With vaping, you absorb the nicotine mostly in your mouth and nose. The water droplets of vapor are bigger than smoke particles and don't "fit" the small gas exchange bits down in the lungs. Not well. So you don't get so much nicotine that way.

Try treating it more like pipe or cigar smoking and "puff". Let the flavor be your guide. The lungs have no taste buds so don't inhale deep. Slow things down and hold the vapor more in your mouth. Maybe exhale nasally (the sense of smell is involved in taste so you can pick up more flavor and nicotine that way). Even if it means you have to vape "more". That's okay. The nicotine is absorbed more slowly so it seems to me new folks always "chain vape" at first. But I think that's because you're trying to adjust to a new way of getting your nicotine and you start by vaping a lot until your habits settle down.

Thanks for the info. I just tried not to inhale but keep in mouth, after few minutes i noticed it gives more satisfaction then inhale. I will continue to not to inhale, i believe in few days i will get used to it. But isnt it go directly to lungs while vaping ?

 

[serenity21899]

Many folks get a tight/heavy chest feeling from high % VG juices.
For me taking a few vapes of anything over 60% vg makes my chest feel like an elephant is standing on it, a dozen or so vapes makes it difficult to breathe. Some flavorings also give me the heavy/ tight chest feeling.

I do not buy juice from any place that won't disclose and/or allow me to chose pg/vg ratios.

I have experience that same thing, at t he same levels. I also don't buy juice from anyone that doesn't give the PG/VG ratio.

 

[nicholax]

i've just swallowed some by mistake and im feeling quite queezy now!!!

 

[Susan2014]

I am also new to vaping. When I first started everything was fine then I got some juice with a different mix other then 50/50 felt like stones sitting on my chest. It was 70vg/30pg well I now know I can't vape that mix. I now try to stay with 50/50 mix. Some of the ejuice will give me a tight chest. Blueberry is one for sure. I find when making my e juice if I add between 5-10% of Distilled water it helps with the berry ones for me. It will take you some time but you will find the right mix for you.... Great job on stopping smoking.
Susan

 

[mkbilbo]

Thanks for the info. I just tried not to inhale but keep in mouth, after few minutes i noticed it gives more satisfaction then inhale. I will continue to not to inhale, i believe in few days i will get used to it. But isnt it go directly to lungs while vaping ?

Some maybe but if it's bothering you, don't deep inhale deliberately. No reason to add to the discomfort eh? Since most of the nicotine is picked up in the mouth and nasal passages in vaping, a deep inhale into the lungs isn't necessary.

When I got started, inhaling into my lungs made me cough my head off. Just could not do it. I learned here, on ECF, to vape more like a pipe or cigar. You know, "puff".

Now I can inhale deep as I want. But never went back to a smoker style deep inhale. It's almost all mouth. Though sometimes I exhale nasally. Though that can make me sneeze.

(Nicotine tickles!)

Many do like to do the whole smoker style inhale and maybe you will later but since it bothers you right now, try a shallow inhale for a time. Don't deliberately draw into your lungs. You don't get much extra nic by drawing into the lungs anyway.

 

[mkbilbo]

Many folks get a tight/heavy chest feeling from high % VG juices.
For me taking a few vapes of anything over 60% vg makes my chest feel like an elephant is standing on it, a dozen or so vapes makes it difficult to breathe. Some flavorings also give me the heavy/ tight chest feeling.

I do not buy juice from any place that won't disclose and/or allow me to chose pg/vg ratios.

I wonder, sometimes, if that might be related to allergies. VG is vegetable glycerin, a plant product. I vape around 50/50 most times but have noticed in the mornings, a nasal exhale can make me sneeze.

It's never anything bad. And it tends to be around times my allergies are acting up so who knows which causes what. Maybe the pollen would make me sneeze even if I didn't vape at all. No idea.

But it does make me wonder if folks who have seasonal allergies might not have mild reactions to VG as it is a plant product.

 

[GinnyTx]

I get a heavy feeling in my chest AND even wheeze with some liquids, we call them "heavy" ones, I have to swap out ...to something else, Frankenvape will do it every time, Ed's got a carrot cake one, that bread at the end gets me every time. Same with anything with cinnamon or nuts in it.

Play around with your vg/pg ratios and liquids and I'll bet you'll find it a thing of the past (glad you got checked out by a doc btw)

 

[crxess]

Helps to occasionally relax, sit the Device down and take a few deep breaths.
Seems more active people have less problem with tight chest.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

I have no allergies, it isn't possible to be more active than what a normal day is for me.

My heavy chest feelings are a result of vaping high VG juices, process of elimination combined with being doctor verified.

 

[mkbilbo]

I have no allergies, it isn't possible to be more active than what a normal day is for me.

My heavy chest feelings are a result of vaping high VG juices, process of elimination combined with being doctor verified.

Oh I was just wondering out loud there, not commenting about anybody specifically. For that matter, allergies run rampant in my family, if such were to apply to anybody in the thread, it'd be me.

 

[AndriaD]

Hello,
I'm new to ecig. I quit smoking 3 weeks ago, so I started to use ecig 3 weeks ago. The first week I was so happy and I was using 50/50 PG/VG. After that i started to get so dry throat and it was a pain on nights even i drink a lot of water. Then I switched to %100 VG, and last week a tight chest problem has started. I have also tried %80 VG but still the same. It usually happens at night after 2-3 puffs. I was on 18mg nicotin first week, then moved to 12mg and this week I am on 9mg and I am happy but this tight chest makes me sad and scare. I went to a doctor last week, they took x-ray and breath tests everything is fine.

- Can this be VG ? Does anybody who has long experience with ecig had this problem ?
- Can this be even %20 PG causing ?

I am also started to create my own juices which are awesome but I am really scared from this tight chest. It goes away if i dont use my ecig. I have all my equipments to create any type of juice, in case if you have suggestion ? I use diamond nbase and some flavors from FA and Parfumers etc... I use itaste v3.0 and iclear30s at 4.4 volt as my ecig.

I was smoking 2,5 packs marlboro lights per day which makes 50 single cig. per day. I really dont wanna back to those days that i was coughing every morning so bad, sore throat etc.. I never ever cough again the day i quit smoking and i feel so healtier than ever in my life except this tight chest every night.

I will be happy if someone who had this problem and solved, help me ?

Thank you very much and sorry for my English.

I've found VG to cause me EXTREME problems with my breathing -- and considering that I have asthma, that's not anything I want to happen. If I either 1) dilute high-VG juices (anything that's at least 40 percent VG is a high-VG juice to me) with distilled water, at least a 10% dilution, or 2) stick to at least 75% PG, I have zero problems.

It's true that high-PG can cause a "scratchy" throat, a lot of folks have mentioned that. But you kinda have to weigh them: scratchy throat, or inability to breathe? I'd prefer the scratchy throat, myself, but I've never had that problem with PG, probably because I've been accustomed to PG for over 30 yrs in my asthma inhalers.

Also bear in mind that BOTH! PG and VG will dehydrate you EXTREMELY, which could make both problems worse -- if the stuff in your chest is thick, it will be harder to cough up, and make it harder to breathe; if your throat is very dry, it could easily feel scratchy. A lot of new vapers apparently shrug off the warnings about dehydration, but it's a very real and very serious issue; if it goes on for too long, you then get into electrolyte imbalance problems, which are a great deal more serious. But everytime you exhale vapor, from vaping? That water vapor is made from the water in your body, which both PG and VG grab to make the vapor, so you're losing water with every puff. Drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol will also make the problem worse; you need real water or fruit juices, or something like that, if you want to truly replace the water you're losing with every puff. Sports drinks are also not a good choice, because they tamper with electrolyte levels, which could actually bring on the electrolyte problem. For myself, I've found coconut water to be the best possible choice, both to correct my electrolyte issues, and keep me hydrated.

Andria