Vapes or e-cigarettes (among other names) were invented in 2003 and their popularity skyrocketed due to being a much healthier alternative to smoking.
Whether you’re a newbie trying out vaping for the first time, or an old-time vaper, you may have felt dizzy after vaping. But why does this happen and is it something you should be worried about? We thought we’d take a closer look, so read on to find out more!
Why Do I Get Dizzy When I Vape?
Nicotine is the answer to your question unless you’re using a disposable that has zero nicotine content or nicotine-free vape juice. There’s a big chance that the e-liquid you’re using has at least some nicotine content.
There’s a wide selection of nicotine strengths available. You can choose from a scale of low doses like 3mg or higher concentrations of up to 48mg. Because of all these options, it’s no surprise that vapers end up choosing the wrong strength for their needs.
1. Nicotine
Nicotine is a naturally-occurring alkaloid present in different types of plants. However, you might recognize it more for its relation to the tobacco plant.
This plant has some of the highest concentrations of nicotine, so it’s the top choice for extracting good amounts of the alkaloid. Also, it isn’t uncommon for people using nicotine to feel dizzy or nauseous.
2. Newbie Vapers Who Get Dizzy
If you’re a new vaper and you feel some dizziness while vaping, don’t worry. There’s a high chance that your body isn’t used to this way of acquiring nicotine.
When vaping, the nicotine entering your bloodstream differs in intensity and speed. That means you’re likely getting a nicotine rush that’s stronger than when smoking cigarettes. When this happens, you could feel lightheadedness and dizziness.
3. Old-time Vapers who get Dizzy
In the case of experienced vapers, if you’re getting dizzy spells after vaping, it’s likely your e-liquid is too much for you. There’s an effect when the strength of nicotine is more than what your body can handle or what it’s used to. It can be a shock to your system.
As a result, there’s a high chance of dizziness, headaches, or sickness. This is why it’s important to get the right nicotine strength that’s adequate for your needs. If you’ve recently changed your brand or flavor, this is likely the problem.
Other Causes of Dizziness while Vaping
Other than nicotine, there are other possible reasons why you get dizzy when vaping. We’ve made a list to make it easier for you to know more about these. These are less likely reasons than nicotine alone but could be the reason.
4. Vaping too Frequently
Vaping too frequently can also make you dizzy, especially when you constantly and heavily puff on your vape. Remember, heavy puffs/constant vaping can lead you to take in too much nicotine and inadequate oxygen. When that happens, you end up getting lightheaded and dizzy.
5. Nicotine Salts
These are often used in disposable vapes or pods, and nicotine salt provides benefits such as a smoother throat hit. It also offers better and faster-acting nicotine.
If this is your first time trying nicotine salts, it could be the reason for your dizziness due to its intensity. We suggest switching to nicotine salts with lower strength or an e-liquid that’s freebase.
6. Your Vape Settings
If you’re using a vape with adjustable settings, there’s a possibility that its settings are causing your dizzy spells.
Take a look at the wattage of your vape. If it’s too high, you’ll get more nicotine for every puff. Simply put, you’re vaping and taking in more e-liquid than necessary.
If this is the case, we suggest that you try lowering the wattage of your vape. Then, try using it like usual and see if decreasing its wattage helps reduce your dizziness.
Other Side Effects of Vaping
Based on studies from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, around 40% of individuals who vape daily experience its common side effects. The most frequently reported effects of vaping were throat/mouth dryness and irritation, plus coughs & headaches.
1. Tiredness
When you take in nicotine, you’re literally ingesting a stimulant. And like sugar or caffeine, nicotine gives you a rush that “wakes you up”. Plus, it can make you feel more alert for short periods. Simply put, it’s somewhat like a sugar rush.
But once this boost wears off, you’ll start crashing, thus, making you feel fatigued and tired. Unfortunately, this can lead to a cycle where you think you need to take more nicotine to stop the feeling of tiredness.
2. Coughing
Most new users complain about coughing, and often, this coughing issue is all because of their approach. Usually, new vapers inhale/vape too much and forget to give their bodies a chance to get used to it and adapt.
If you end up coughing every time you vape, we suggest checking the airflow of your device. Remove its cartridge then draw on it while it isn’t connected to the battery. If there’s some difficulty pulling through the air, your device is designed for mouth-to-lung draws.
However, if air pulls through easily, then you’re using a direct-lung device. For these types of vapes, it’s best to use e-liquids with 6mg or less nicotine content. Keep in mind that more nicotine will likely irritate your throat and in turn, will cause coughing.
Additionally, if you’re a new vaper, you also need to build your vaping over a few weeks. Too much vaping can lead to irritation even in people who used to have heavy smoking habits.
3. Dry Mouth
Another common side effect of vaping is dry mouth, which is caused by the base units in e-liquids, PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerine). According to reports, more people are having issues with PG, but VG also causes some problems. Both of these are hygroscopic compounds, so they absorb water.
Generally, your dry mouth will eventually pass after a few days, but if it doesn’t, go for an oral hydration rinse. If that isn’t enough, we suggest increasing your water intake.
4. Headaches
If you’ve just quit smoking, then congratulations! But unfortunately, getting mild to moderate headaches is a common experience after quitting.
Although there is nicotine content in your e-liquid, the lack of other alkaloids can trigger your withdrawal symptoms, and one of these is headaches. Generally, your headaches should pass after a couple of weeks.
Another possible cause of your headache is a lack of water intake. Dehydration isn’t uncommon among new vapers, and you can solve it by simply drinking more water. Headaches are only a short-term side effect of vaping, so they should pass in just a few weeks.
Tips to Prevent Dizziness when Vaping
Nobody wants to experience dizziness and lightheadedness while vaping. So here are a few tips to reduce the chances of you getting dizzy.
1. Know Your Nicotine
If you use salt-based nicotine, keep in mind that it has a higher chance of causing dizziness compared to freebase nicotine. The reason is that salt-based nicotine absorbs more rapidly into the body, and is more potent.
So if you’re worried about getting dizzy, we suggest avoiding nicotine salts altogether. But if you really want to use this, make sure you’ve developed some tolerance to its effects first.
2. Check the Nicotine Strength
Remember, dizziness and lightheadedness are caused by a nicotine-induced headrush. The increased nicotine strength will be less likely to cause these reactions when you vape. But of course, you’ll need to be sure you’re getting adequate nicotine to satisfy your needs.
It’s better to go for nicotine strength that’s slightly on the lower side and you can always increase it if it’s not meeting your needs. This will help lessen the potency of the liquid’s impact on your system.
3. Check Your Settings
If your device has a higher temperature/wattage, expect to have more vapor production per firing. In turn, there will be more nicotine entering your body.
So for starters, it’s best to go for a low to moderate setting. Then, you can start increasing it based on how much your system can handle, and your needs.
4. Hits and Pulling
It’s a good idea to count how many hits you have while vaping. We know, it’s not really something anyone would want to count on. However, it’s better to be aware of how many hits you make while vaping.
Why? Because taking too many hits in a short span of time will drive higher nicotine levels to your brain. So, there’s a bigger chance that you’ll experience dizziness. Also, be aware of how are pulling. Deep pulls will cause a higher absorption of nicotine than shorter pulls.
Conclusion
Getting dizzy during vaping is often short-lived and generally harmless. However, experiencing dizziness while vaping is an uncomfortable and disorienting situation, and no one wants to feel this way.
By simply following the quick tips we provided, you can lessen the risks of dizziness and lightheadedness. That means you can enjoy every puff you make when vaping, and get that nicotine hit without any side effects.
