non nicotine geek bar

Why Vaping Might Be Giving You a Sore Throat

Key Takeaways

Drinking plenty of fluids can help with a sore throat caused by vaping. The best solution is to stop vaping altogether.

Vaping often leads to a sore throat, a common symptom resulting from inhaling various chemicals and irritants present in vape juice, like nicotine and propylene glycol. Staying hydrated can provide relief, but consider reducing or eliminating vaping altogether.

How Vaping Causes a Sore Throat

Not everyone will experience a sore throat, but it is common. A sore throat can be due to several factors, including the ingredients in the vapor.

Vaporizers change a liquid (vaping juice) into an aerosol, or vapor, using battery-powered heat. Ingredients like nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals in the liquid are inhaled into your throat and lungs, which may irritate your throat.

Vaping juice may contain a number of different substances, including:

Propylene glycol, a synthetic chemical used as a common food additive and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics Nicotine, an addictive stimulant Food-grade flavoring Diacetyl, a food flavoring linked to a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, or "popcorn lung" Heavy metals, which can leach from the heating element into the vapor during the vaping process, but usually aren't present in the e-liquid itself Cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde Volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that may be found in paints and cleaning supplies Vegetable glycerin

As of January 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance prioritizing enforcement against certain unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarette products to discourage youths from using them.

Factors That Can Make Vaping More Uncomfortable

Factors that can contribute to a sore throat from vaping include nicotine, propylene glycol, organic compounds, and nicotine withdrawal.

Throat Hit

A "throat hit" is the sensation that you feel when you inhale vapor or smoke. The amount of nicotine, as well as the temperature of the vapor, can impact the sensation you may feel as you inhale. If you are not used to smoking, the throat hit may lead to a sore throat.

Nicotine Withdrawal

Using a vaping juice with less nicotine than usual can cause nicotine withdrawal. Along with other symptoms, you may develop a sore throat due to coughing, changes in vaping habits, or chemical irritants.

It's important to know that it is highly beneficial for your health to quit vaping or smoking nicotine and avoid all the negative consequences of nicotine addiction—even if you only experience a mild temporary sore throat.

Some may suggest vaping as a way to wean off of nicotine, but this is not an FDA-approved tool for quitting smoking.

High Propylene Glycol Concentration

Having a high concentration of propylene glycol in your vape juice can cause throat dryness and a sore throat.

Staying hydrated can help soothe a sore throat from vaping.

Volatile Organic Compounds and Diacetyl

Vaping juices may contain volatile organic compounds or diacetyl, both of which are known to irritate the throat. If you are experiencing a sore throat, changing products or quitting vaping may help relieve your symptoms.

Dry Hit

If you inhale when there is no vaping juice to vaporize, you will experience a "dry hit." This can result in an uncomfortable burning sensation and a temporary sore throat.

How Long Does a Sore Throat Last?

There is limited research that specifically measures how long a sore throat from vaping lasts. It may depend on the factor or ingredient that is causing the sore throat or it may go away on its own.

How Can You Soothe a Vaping-Induced Sore Throat?

To ease a sore throat, the primary recommendation is to stop vaping. Other ways to treat a sore throat include:

Drinking warm beverages and plenty of fluids Gargling with salt water Using a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer Sucking on ice chips, popsicles, or lozenges Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers (follow the dosage on the label)

What Other Health Issues Can Vaping Cause?

You may not always experience a sore throat with vaping. However, vaping can lead to other serious health problems, such as:

Lung disease such as e-cigarette or vaping produce use-associated lung injury (EVALI) Vaping can worsen existing asthma or respiratory conditions. Vaping may increase the risk of heart disease, but more research is needed. Death (though not common)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding vaping products and e-cigarettes that contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the main compound in cannabis that causes the high. The CDC also recommends that vitamin E acetate should not be added to any e-cigarette or vaping, product.

Ask your healthcare provider about smoking or nicotine cessation programs to help prevent long-term health problems related to vaping.

As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing the following:

Cigarettes Smokeless tobacco Cigars Hookah and pipe tobacco E-cigarettes and e-liquids