Where'd my high blood pressure go?

[malus_rex]

I am 26 years old and have had elevated to high blood pressure since I was 22 (since the first time I started having it checked regularly). It has pretty much been in the area of 135/90 as long as I can remember, occasionally popping up as high as 145/95 when I've had it checked.

Nothing I've ever done has gotten it to stay below 130/88 regularly, including low sodium diets, increased exercise, and cutting back on drinking and smoking. The only time I could get it that low was when I was working out 2+ hours a day 6 days a week.

Today I went in for a routine physical... I have been vaping exclusively for a little over a month. My blood pressure was 120/80. I was seeing a doctor I haven't seen before, and before knowing my history of pre-hypertension he commented on my blood pressure being excellent.

I can't believe I was able to get my blood pressure down so easily. I never really believed smoking was to blame for it, probably because I never had my blood pressure checked regularly before I started smoking so there was no base to compare it to. Also I never saw a noticeable difference even when I cut back significantly.. So it seemed pointless to keep going. Both my parents have smoked far more than me for years but never had any blood pressure problems, so I assumed there had to be some other reason.

I'm pretty ecstatic to see such a dramatic and measurable health benefit to switching after only a month!

 

[Dusty_D]

Ha! That was one of the first things to happen to me too. I went from a routine 130/90 for almost 10 years down to 113/72 within 6 months of giving up the stinkies. My doc who has been treating me the entire time, took my pressure twice to confirm readings before he asked me what I had done different. At that point I pulled out my eGo (like I said, 6 months in) and told him I had swapped smoking for vaping.

I hit two years on the 22nd.

Happy vaping!!

 

[durgidog]

Congratulations! What a life changer!

 

[Beans]

Oh! I'm so happy for you congratulations and I hope your proud of yourself...

 

[TinyTimberGal]

Probably the same place my high cholesterol went! Mine went down nearly 60 points without medication or diet change.

 

[hnyb0210]

Thanks for this thread because I've been wondering about what effect vaping might have on my BP. Mine has been "borderline" (doctors' word) for several years (140-160/80-90) & occasionally gets crazy (165/105). I was also pre-eclamptic w/my last child 4 yrs ago) & required magnesium, etc. I've only been vaping about a week, but I've noticed some occasional rapid pulse & intermittently have that "feeling" that I get when I know my BP is elevated. I'd love to have my BP go DOWN as a result of vaping & I was getting a little scared that it actually may have the opposite effect? I got my trusty BP monitor out yesterday so I can start tracking it (as I should be doing all the time). Yesterday I got a 133/90, and this morning a 154/93! Perhaps I'm consuming more nicotine that I realize? I started at 18mg - maybe should step down to 12?

 

[Robin Macri]

I would try stepping down to 12mg if you are vaping all day and using 18mg when you really need it.

 

[NICnurse]

My BP went down as well.....but not as a good thing! I always cruised at around 112-115/70-75. Last time I was checked (4 months ago) I was 99/67!! I have vaped for almost 2 years now and have noticed that I get a little light headed sometimes. Vaping isn't the cause of my hypotension, but giving up cigarettes brought this condition to the surface. It had been masked for many years due to smoking. I make sure to stay hydrated and get up and move around when I feel the light headed feeling. That usually takes care of it. I joke with my husband that I need to keep an IV bag of vasopressors at home in case I crash too low!

Also....I had problems with going hypoglycemic when I first started vaping. My body had a hard time transitioning off the crap in ciggies. I borrowed a glucometer from work to check my sugars. I have no diabetes history and always had normal glucose readings but I was dipping into the upper 60/low 70 range for a couple weeks after stopping smoking. That resolved within a few weeks thankfully!