Vapers cough is a common thing amongst beginners. Although the coughing should stop once you get used to vaping, for some people the coughing can persist for months. Many other reasons can cause you to cough when vaping. Vapers cough is somewhat of a rite of passage, everybody goes through it, and if you are going to continue to vape you have to see it through. In this article we are going to discuss what exactly causes vapers cough in the first place and how to stop it or at the very least, manage it.
Why do vapers cough when vaping
Vapers cough is the irritating and prickly cough you get after using your vaporizer. It is extremely common among beginners and can affect a small number of experienced vapers. In fact, 57% of new vapers will experience vapers cough during the first ten or so weeks of using a vaporizer. However, 92% of users acclimate to their vaporizers within three months and the coughing stops soon after you acclimate.
Several other factors can contribute to the frequency and intensity of the cough. These factors include:
- Acclimating to vaping your new device
- Vaping techniques
- Quality and ingredients of the vape juice used
Acclimating to vaping
Experienced smokers who are switching to vaping will also experience vapers cough. This is because tobacco smoke damages the small hairs that are at the back of your throat, known as cilia. Cilia is what allows us to breathe smoothly by removing dirt and mucus from the throat.
When you quit smoking tobacco, the cilia begin to grow back and causes some slight irritation in the throat which can lead to a cough. It is also not uncommon for ex-smokers to cough after they quit smoking. Excessive coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of all the toxics you took in while smoking.
Vaping technique
The size of your device in conjunction with the type of vape juices you use can also factor into your cough. If you have a large vaporizer or use a sub-ohm vape kit, the heaviness of the hit produced by these devices could be the reason why you are coughing. Vaping with these larger devices is known as direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping and is designed for experienced users. The vapor produced by these devices can be extremely overwhelming especially for first-time users but also for people who are not accustomed to the power of the device and the hit it can produce.
Mouth-to-lung (MTL) is another style of vaping that is very similar to smoking a cigarette. With this technique, you control the flow of vapor to your lungs and can thus ease your cough by taking small, more manageable hits. If using DTL vaporizers causes you to have intense coughing then it would be wise to switch to smaller MTL vaporizers to alleviate your cough.
Quality and ingredients of vape juice
The quality of the vape juice you use influences more than just the taste but can also be the reason why you’re coughing. Propylene Glycol (PG) is a base used in all vape juices and is responsible for carrying the flavor and producing vapor. PG is important in establishing a realistic smoking sensation, a high PG ratio results in a genuine throat hit that mimics that of smoking a cigarette.
Using vape juices with high nicotine levels can cause your throat to be slightly irritated and lead to coughing, especially when using a sub-ohm vaporizer. The use of premium vape juices that have lower concentrations of nicotine can lower the intensity of your cough and can help you acclimate to the vaping experience much faster.
How to stop vapers coughs
Vapers cough is going to happen especially in the beginning. You can’t completely stop or prevent vapers cough but by implementing a few of the following strategies you can mitigate the intensity and harshness of the cough.
1. Play around with techniques
Committing to vaping takes persistence and willpower. A lot of people stop vaping because of the cough, not knowing that it is temporary and there are ways to ease the irritations on the throat when vaping. Try experimenting with different vaping techniques, inhale slowly and lightly until you get used to the device and the vapor it produces. Once you are comfortable with everything, you can start taking longer draws and settle into a technique that works for you.
2. Experiment with PG:VG ratios and nicotine levels
Using vape juices that have higher PG ratios may be the reason for your cough. Try switching to vape juices with a lower PG:VG ratio for a smoother, more pleasant hit on the throat. Keep in mind that vape juices with lower PG:VG ratios often have lower concentrations of nicotine, so if the nicotine concentrations are important to your vaping experience you may find these vape juices to be subpar. It would also be worth your time to play around with nicotine salts. These are specifically designed to be significantly less harsh on the throat. So experiment with different vape juices to find the best PG:VG ratio and nicotine concentration for you.
3. Drink water
Drinking water every day is basic medical advice but more so, for smokers and vapers. Due to ingredients like PG which causes dry mouth and coughing, it is very important to drink more water throughout the day and will also help ease your cough or eliminate it altogether.
4. Lower the wattage or restrict the airflow of your device
Larger devices are designed for more experienced vapers. They often enable the user to adjust airflow, power output, and wattage settings. You may find that your device is producing more vapor than you can handle. To ease your cough, try restricting the amount of airflow or lowering the wattage to the lowest possible setting. One of these two solutions will help ease your cough when you use the device.
Product recommendations
Whether you are new to vaping or are an experienced vaper, there are many reasons why you may experience coughing or throat irritation when vaping. Making the switch from smoking to vaping will be extremely difficult, especially in the early stages of overcoming vapers cough, however, that persistence to stick with it will be worth it in the long run. Vaping is much safer than smoking and is an excellent alternative to smoking.
If you are new to vaping we’ve linked below some product recommendations for vape juices that have a smoother, more pleasant hit on the throat, as well as some vape kits that you could start with.
Vape juices:
Boss E-liquids – Caramel Coffee
Devices for the perfect hits:
All of these devices and more are available at Vaperite and Vape shop. South Africa’s leading vape shop and cannabis paraphernalia outlet chain.
