Vaping, inhaling vaporized liquid from an electronic cigarette, has gained popularity as an alternative to traditional smoking. Unlike smoking, vaping doesn't involve burning substances, eliminating the production of smoke. However, even without smoke, vaping can lead to various health concerns, including the discomfort of a sore throat.
In recent years, vaping has come under scrutiny due to its association with lung injuries and fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised against using vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Furthermore, the CDC recommends avoiding the addition of vitamin E acetate to any e-cigarette or vaping product.
If you've been experiencing persistent throat discomfort after vaping, you might be wondering about the reasons behind this sensation.
Occasionally, we all encounter a slight burning feeling when vaping, often due to factors like dry hits or potent liquids.
However, if your throat constantly burns whenever you vape, it could signal an underlying issue. To shed light on this matter, let's delve into the common causes of throat irritation from vaping and learn how to address and alleviate this concern.
What is Vaping?
Vaping converts liquid into an aerosol or vapor by utilizing battery-powered heat through vaping devices or mods. Various vaporizers can vary in their outward design.
Key characteristics of vaping devices include:
- Activation through Inhaling: Initiating the process involves taking a breath through the mouthpiece, which activates the heat source.
- Vaporization: The heat generated transforms the liquid stored in the tank or container into vapor.
- Inhalation: The resulting vapor can then be drawn into the user's lungs.
- Nicotine Absorption: Within this vapor, nicotine is present and gets absorbed into the bloodstream.
What is Vape Liquid Made Of?
Vape juice, also known as e-liquid, comprises various components that contribute to its composition. These components include:
- Propylene Glycol (PG): Propylene glycol is a substance in many packaged foods and cosmetics. It is a common ingredient in vape juice and creates vapor when heated. While generally recognized as safe, some individuals might experience a sore or scratchy throat due to its presence. If you're sensitive to PG, switching to vape juices with higher vegetable glycerin (VG), content could offer a smoother experience and reduce throat irritation.
- Vegetable Glycerin (VG): Vegetable glycerin is another essential component of vape juice. It contributes to vapor production and tends to provide a smoother inhaling experience. Vape juices with higher VG concentrations are often recommended for those seeking to minimize throat irritation.
- Flavorings: Vape juices come in various flavors, achieved through artificial or natural flavorings. These flavorings can contribute to the overall vaping experience but may occasionally cause throat discomfort, especially if harsh or strong.
- Nicotine: Nicotine is a stimulant found in tobacco products and can be included in vape juice. When vaporized and inhaled, nicotine gets absorbed into the bloodstream, creating the familiar sensation for many vapers.
- Other Chemicals: Some vape juices may contain additional substances, such as preservatives or stabilizers, potentially impacting throat comfort.
Causes of Burning Throat
The sensation of a burning throat while vaping can stem from various factors, some of which are more common than others. Understanding these causes is essential for a smoother vaping experience. Here are some prevalent reasons:
Low-Quality Devices
Selecting the right vaping device is crucial. Low-quality devices may be unable to adjust wattage levels, resulting in excessively high temperatures that lead to scalding vapor and a sore throat. Especially if you're new to vaping, excessively high wattage settings can cause a pronounced burning sensation.
Opt for trusted brands that offer wattage adjustments, allowing you to find the setting most comfortable for you. Also, consider devices with more comprehensive drip tips to enhance airflow and reduce throat harshness. Many devices offer interchangeable drip-tip options, making you choose a more comfortable design.
Relevant: Elf Bar Tastes Burnt
Propylene Glycol (PG) Concentration
Propylene glycol, a key ingredient in e-liquids, contributes to the cigarette-like throat hit and helps carry e-liquid flavors. While safe for consumption, higher concentrations of PG can draw moisture from the mouth and throat, potentially leading to irritation.
Opt for e-liquids with lower PG and higher Vegetable Glycerin (VG) content to prevent a burning sensation while vaping. Staying hydrated while vaping is also essential—drinking ample water between sessions can help alleviate throat discomfort.
Nicotine Concentration
E-liquids come in varying nicotine concentrations, while some contain none at all. If you’re transitioning from smoking to vaping, the e-liquid nicotine content might be the culprit behind a sore or burning throat.
Using e-liquids with low or zero nicotine can lead to this sensation due to nicotine withdrawal. To mitigate throat discomfort, consider starting with an e-liquid with a higher nicotine concentration and gradually reducing it over time.
Nicotine Sensitivity
If you're not accustomed to nicotine, opting for e-liquids with high nicotine content can result in coughing, irritation, and that familiar burning sensation in your throat. If you’re new to vaping or unfamiliar with nicotine, selecting e-liquids without any nicotine additive is advisable to prevent this uncomfortable sensation.
Relevant: Esco Bar Tastes Burnt
Dry Hits
Using your vaping device without sufficient e-liquid in the tank can lead to a dry hit characterized by an abrasive and excessively hot drag. This often results in an uncomfortable burning sensation in your throat. To avoid this, always ensure your tank is adequately filled with e-liquid, and your coil is primed correctly to prevent burning out.
Many devices feature transparent or small viewing windows on the tanks, through which you can quickly check e-liquid levels before taking a drag. Inhaling when there's no e-liquid to vaporize leads to a dry hit, causing a temporary sore throat due to the uncomfortable burning sensation.
Nonstop Vaping
If you puff on your vape a lot without pausing, the wick inside can dry out fast. This, along with feeling overwhelmed by too much vaping, might make your throat feel burning. Remember, vaping isn't the same as smoking, so go slower if your throat feels uncomfortable.
Taking breaks between puffs lets the wick soak up more liquid. Also, getting your coils ready before vaping, that is, properly priming them, can make things smoother.
Burned Coils
Sometimes, coils in your vaping device can burn out, and this can happen for different reasons that you can't always prevent. When coils burn, it's best not to keep using them. Swap out the burnt ring right away for better results. How long a wave lasts depends on how much you vape and the power you use.
If your e-juice doesn't taste good anymore or doesn't make as much vapor as before, it might be time to get a new coil. To make your lock work well, remember to prepare it properly before using it and make sure you've got the right ring for your device.
These are some reasons why vaping might make your throat feel burnt. The good news is, you don't have to give up the pleasant feeling in your throat or quit using your favorite vape juice to avoid that burning sensation. Find a balance and learn how your device works to prevent most cases of a burning throat.
Volatile Organic Compounds & Diacetyl
Certain vape juices might have diacetyl or other chemicals that can make your throat sore or uncomfortable. Using diacetyl in e-liquids is against the rules in some countries. If you suspect these things are causing your sore throat, try switching to a different brand or flavor of vape juice to avoid the burning feeling.
Make sure to buy e-liquids from trusted companies to keep your vaping experience safe and enjoyable.
Using the Wrong Type of Liquid
While the stuff in e-liquid is usually safe, and many people don't have any issues, a few folks might feel a bit uncomfortable due to some ingredients. One of these is Propylene Glycol (PG), which can sometimes make a few people's throats feel sore.
It's not a big deal, just a mild thing. If your e-liquid has lots of PG, you could try using one with more Vegetable Glycerin (VG), which is smoother and less likely to cause any problems.
The strength of Liquid is Too High
When we vape, we feel a "throat hit," which happens when we inhale. How strong this feeling is depends on how strong our e-liquid is. If your e-liquid is robust, the throat hit can be strong too.
If you're using robust e-liquid and it's bothering your throat, you could use a weaker one. But if you've just quit smoking or like vital e-liquids, you might not want a weak one. In that case, using nic salts could be helpful. Nic salts have a smoother kind of nicotine, so you can still enjoy strong e-liquid without the same strong throat feeling as regular e-juice.
Conclusion
Vaping, also known as e-cigarettes, is becoming more popular, especially among young adults aged 18 to 24. The liquids used in vaping can have things that might not be good for your health and could make your throat sore.
However, with vaping gaining mass popularity as an alternative to smoking, it is wise to really understand the device you choose to use.
Understanding your device will not only ensure that you have a proper experience but will also help you tackle any vaping-related problems you may face. In this case, sore throat or a burning sensation in your throat.