Vaping, High BP and Diabetes

[Roger]

I suffer from high blood pressure (came from being an Air Trafficker), but since packing in fags and only vaping, my GP has reduced my medication. Fairly happy about that, but it could be plenty of other reasons for the drop.

[jeanie]

Thank you to everybody for your input, some very interesting points to consider.

I've decided it wouldn't hurt for me to lower the nicotine content of my juices and if I do it gradually, I probably won't even notice. If the PG content, doesn't have any effect on BP, I could perhaps up that for a little extra throat hit.

[NickIcon]

Nov 1, 2012 9:37:37 GMT Clutter said:

Nick

I've been buying zero nic for a couple of months. I didn't feel any difference between Hi/Med/Low. Once on 0mg I realised iwasnt getting an annoying tingling on the tip of my tongue & no chemical aftertaste which I now realise is probably the taste of the nicotine. I haven't experienced any nicotine cravings & haven't had a nicotine rush when vaping some of the nic juices in my stash.

I'm surprised you didn't feel much of a difference between different strengths - makes me think I ought to try cutting down on nic content sooner!

May also ask my girlfriend to get her sphygmomanometer (full disclosure: I Googled the spelling) out and take my blood pressure over a few weeks to watch for changes.

[jeanie]

Thank you to everybody for your input, some interesting points to consider.

I've decided it won't hurt for me to lower the nicotine content of my juices and if I do it gradually, I probably won't even notice. If PG doesn't have any effect on blood pressure, I could maybe up that to give me a little extra throat hit.

[lobeydosser]

A word of warning to those who are thinking about cutting down you nic MG levels to nil.

I have "given up" smoking many times over the past 20 odd years, using a variety of methods and I have usually managed to stay away from fags almost to the point where I thought I had cracked it that time around.

Then a circumstance would come along, right out of the blue, that would have me craving nicotine.
Invariably I would be where I had no chance to get at any of the back up pills/gum/whatever I had used that time to stop and off I'd trot to buy yet another packet of fags and a lighter to calm my nerves. There I was back on the dammed weed, usually smoking more than I had been before.

The last time I stopped was for 18 months. So now that I am vaping I have no intention of stopping again.
I may reduce the amount I vape, both in volume and on a nicotine level but I accept, that for me, a no nicotine policy is just not on the cards.

If I was to think along the lines of vaping, but with a no nicotine content, I would make dammed sure that in my kit, at all time, was a carto of the highest MG level that I have ever used, just in case.
Far better to vape a high strength carto in an emergency than to go back to smoking during a shakey situation.

There are many thousands of people who give up smoking every year, but apart from the Vapers, precious few of these quitters are still off a year later and considerably less after 2 years.

You have made the right move by becoming a Vaper. Please. please, please, do not screw it up now by using you e-cigs as an NRT product.

[Roger]

Good post Lobey, been there, done that. Don't intend to stop vaping, unless it is proved to be really, really nasty to your elf.

Started on 36mg, am now on 18/20mg, with the occasional 24mg, so have moved in the right direction (I hope)

[NickIcon]

You have made the right move by becoming a Vaper. Please. please, please, do not screw it up now by using you e-cigs as an NRT product.

I see what you're saying and agree that it would be unwise to tip all non-nil-nic juice down the drain. I've had similar experiences when I've stopped smoking in the past - about 4 times for a total of 3 years or so - each time I cracked it was due to stressful circumstances. It would of course be far better to fall back onto nicotine juices rather than to start smoking again.

To my mind the decreasing in nicotine is just the next step along the path of harm reduction - albeit maybe a harder one than the step from smoking to vaping.

[andym]

One thing,can i ask you if you are a bit anxious when going to the GP surgery?There is a well known thing called "White Coat Syndrome"which does cause hypertension,sometimes quite high hypertension.

[jeanie]

I understand what you mean Andy and I believe they make allowances for that but I don't think that is the reason for me. I did used to get a bit anxious before I went for tests but now I've had so many and practically got a seat reserved at the health centre, I take it all in my stride.

[djs]

Nov 1, 2012 5:28:36 GMT Clutter said:

Just posting a couple of links for you to peruse.

I found this..

"There is no legitimate scientific evidence that e-cigarettes will help smokers quit or reduce their use of any tobacco product."

Whoa....calm down....have I been in a dream since I chucked away my tobacco stash?

[fresarubia]

I'm not sure but I think I read somewhere that even mild dehydration can cause an increase in blood pressure.

Maybe see if increasing the amount of water you drink help lowers your BP. :-)

[Malibu]

I have never had high blood pressure in my life.
When I went to the smoking cessation clinic for Champix it was taken and it was normal. I tried a week on them and hated them so started vaping.

Approx 10 weeks later I changed doctors and had a "join up" check up. My blood pressure was 200 over something.
They put me on tablets 3 weeks ago, today blood pressure is still high but I was only on a low dose.

I never even thought about blood pressure and vaping until I saw this thread. Not that it will make a difference to me, smoking will cause far worse probems.