Do Vapes Cause Headaches?

Disposable vaping devices have become one of the go-to sources of nicotine for many adults today. One of the key reasons behind this is that vapes have been advertised to be less harmful than tobacco products due to their lack of tobacco elements. Additionally, they are customizable since consumers can opt for one with their desired flavour and nicotine strength.

Using disposable vaping devices has also become a norm these past few years as they are easy to use. Vape users have to only make sure that their electronic cigarettes have enough battery charge. Once they crave nicotine, they only need to either puff or press a button to activate the device.

But one thing about disposable vapes is they could cause health effects for some vape users. One of these health effects is headaches. In this article by Native Smokes 4 Less, we’ll discuss the connection between disposable vapes and headaches and the potential reasons why such health effects occur.

Composition of Vapes

Many types of vaping devices are currently available in the market right now. However, one of the most popular types of e-cigarettes you can get today is disposable vapes.

Disposable vapes or vaping devices are electronic nicotine delivery systems that can provide users with their much-needed nicotine hits and desired flavour without using any tobacco products. They often possess the following components to fulfill their main purpose:

• Battery: The battery of a disposable vape intends to power the whole device as well as determine how long the vaping device can be used before needing to recharge. Located in the bottom part of the vaping device, it is typically attached to other components of the vaping device such as coil and atomizer. Most disposable vapes today take advantage of lithium-ion batteries, which can be hazardous when not handled and disposed of properly. This is the reason why disposable vapes must be discarded responsibly.
• Pod: Another key component of a disposable vape is the pod. It is a small cartridge that contains the e-liquid or vape juice and the coil. The pods used for disposable vapes may vary in size and capacity, typically ranging from 0.5ml to 3ml. Since disposable vapes are used for a limited amount of time, the pods used in making them are often pre-filled with e-liquid already. It somehow removes the need to refill the pod manually, which other types of vapes require.
• Coil: A vital component of a disposable vape is the coil. It is meant to heat the e-liquid and turn it into vapour or aerosol. The coil is usually made of a thin wire made of kanthal, stainless steel, or nickel-chromium that is then wrapped around a cotton pad or a wick. This component is attached to the battery and the atomizer. So, once the battery has been activated, it will subsequently heat the coil, vaporizing the e-liquid along the way.
• Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece of a disposable vape enables a user to put it in their mouth and inhale the vapour. Typically made of plastic or silicone, it’s meant to be comfortable and easy to use. The inhaling experience of vape users typically depends on the size and shape of the mouthpiece. A large mouthpiece normally provides a more substantial grip, while a small mouthpiece can provide a more discreet and portable way of enjoying the device. Some disposable vapes, however, feature a tapered mouthpiece to boost the vapour’s flavour.
• Airflow system: A disposable vape features an airflow system to effectively regulate the amount of air that enters the device whenever users inhale it. The user’s vaping experience can be affected by the airflow system’s design, with more airflow leading to a smoother draw and larger vapour clouds. Today, most disposable vapes come with an adjustable airflow system so users can customize their draw based on their preferences.
• Indicator lights: Knowing the essential information about a vaping device’s status is possible through its indicator lights. Disposable vapes from varying brands today feature LED lights located on their chassis or exterior parts, which can flash or change colours to tell various functions such as battery life, power mode, e-liquid volume, and so on.

Using vaping devices may be similar to smoking cigarettes since you’ll be puffing to get your desired nicotine hits and flavour. The only difference is that vaping products utilize vaporization instead of combustion, which causes the release of harmful byproducts from tobacco ingredients of cigarettes.

The working principles of disposable vapes are pretty straightforward.

When you inhale from the vape’s mouthpiece, its battery gets activated. It will then cause the coil to heat up, vaporizing the e-liquid found and stored in the pod. Some vapes may feature a button to manually activate the battery, while others can already work by inhaling from the mouthpiece.

On average, disposable vapes can last from several hours to several days. Once depleted, you can either charge the device or replace the whole thing with a new one.

The e-liquid found inside the pod may vary in formulation, which can somehow affect its flavour, nicotine strength, and cloud size. Some known flavours of vaping devices include fruit, candy, menthol, and tobacco. The nicotine strength of vaping products then somehow matches the intensity of cigarettes. But most of the time, they tend to provide stronger hits.

The coil used in vapes may vary in resistance level. Disposable vapes, however, often use coils with a fixed resistance level of 1.2ohms to 1.8ohms, designed to give users a good balance between flavour and vapour production. Now, speaking of vapour and flavour production, the airflow system of disposable vapes may also vary to somehow provide a custom vaping experience.

A tighter airflow system, for instance, can restrict the amount of air entering the device, which boosts the flavour by concentrating the vapour. A looser airflow system, alternatively, can dilute the flavour by letting more air in so it can mix with the vapour.

Vape Ingredients and Headaches

Now that you know the basic components and parts of disposable vapes, it’s time to delve deeper and explore the ingredients of e-liquid or vape juice.

E-liquid, in general, is the liquid used in electronic cigarettes or vaping devices to generate the vapour that users inhale. It is typically comprised of plenty of ingredients to give users satisfying and flavourful nicotine hits. Some of the ingredients of e-liquid are as follows:

• Propylene glycol: Propylene glycol or PG is a versatile chemical that is found in many products such as cosmetics, deodorants, medicines, and drink mixes. It has exceptional solvent properties and the capability to maintain ingredient homogeneity. As for e-liquid, it serves as the base of the whole formulation, diluting other ingredients to the desired strength of the manufacturers. And since it is a superior solvent compared to vegetable glycerin, e-liquids with higher PG content are known for exhibiting bolder and more distinct flavours.
• Vegetable glycerin: While PG is often synthesized, vegetable glycerin or VG is a natural chemical often found as a byproduct of soaps. The properties of VG are somehow similar to those of PG, leading to their interchangeable use in many products such as lotions, hair conditioners, and eyedrops. VG, while not as effective as PG, serves as an alternative for individuals who are allergic or sensitive to PG in medications, cosmetic products, and many more. When it comes to e-liquid, VG is used to enhance its sweetness. Inhaling a high VG e-liquid tends to be smooth in the throat. The same e-liquid type can also produce larger clouds.
• Nicotine: Nicotine is naturally found in tobacco, which is why the number of tobacco products has increased significantly in the last few centuries. The risk associated with tobacco leaves, however, has pushed the tobacco industry to find an alternative source of nicotine for newer products like vaping devices. This is where nicotine salt and synthetic nicotine enter. Nicotine salt e-liquid has a mild acid, causing the nicotine to go back to its original salt form, making it smoother. It tends to, however, irritate the throat at higher strength. Synthetic nicotine, alternatively, doesn’t cause any throat irritation. It is also known to be purer and potentially less harmful.
• Flavours: The final ingredient of e-liquid is flavourings. They are typically composed of natural and artificial food-grade flavours, which come from the same ingredients used in making snacks, candies, and beverages. Today, the number of flavours you can get from vaping products is technically limitless. You can get vaping products that mimic the taste of candy, baked goods, desserts, dairy products, beverages, fruits, cereals, and more. Flavourings are then paired with sweetening agents, making e-liquids as sweet as real sugar.

If the ingredients used for e-liquids are generally safe, then why do you experience headaches every time you use your vaping device?

There are two potential causes behind vape headaches.

1. Excessive nicotine intake: Using nicotine products such as disposable vapes may trigger headaches. This is because the nicotine content of such products may constrict your blood vessels, reducing blood flow to and around the brain. Your headache situation may even get worse if you still vaped while a headache is already present. Interestingly, some vape users still experience headaches even after not consuming nicotine for a while.
2. Sensitive to ingredients: Another potential cause behind your headaches when vaping is sensitivity to specific compounds or flavours. You might be sensitive or even allergic to a specific ingredient in the e-liquid that you’re currently using. This reason might not be common, but it’s worth exploring if you’ve already crossed out nicotine overuse as a reason behind the headache.
3. Dehydration: Two key ingredients of e-liquid are PG and VG. These ingredients, unfortunately, may cause dehydration, giving you a dry mouth feeling and a headache. This happens since both ingredients are known to absorb moisture effectively. When you exhale the vapour from your vaping device, you’re essentially removing moisture from your body. The only thing you can do to combat dehydration is to drink extra liquid to restore the moisture you’ve lost.

Blood Vessel Effects

The working principles of disposable vapes are simple.

As you activate the disposable vape, the coil inside heats the nicotine liquid, converting it into a vapour or mist. You will then inhale the vapour, which contains nicotine and other substances. After a few seconds, you will have to exhale the vapour, forming a cloud that is similar to cigarette smoke.

The nicotine you’ll get from your vaping device can travel to your brain quickly. It can, however, affect the blood vessels in your brain, causing them to become narrow. This somehow reduces blood flow to your brain, which could potentially lead to a nasty headache. And if you’re more sensitive to pain, the intensity of your headache may become worse if you use your vaping device.

Aside from headaches, the nicotine from your e-liquid may also impact your central nervous system in more ways. Some more potential effects of consuming nicotine from vaping include lightheadedness, dizziness, and sleep impairment.

Now, you might be wondering whether vape headaches only occur in beginners. While inexperienced nicotine users have a high chance of experiencing such headaches, experienced users can also experience headaches. The only difference is that experienced users may only experience withdrawal headaches, especially if they suddenly dialled back their nicotine intake.

It’s important to note that headaches may be caused by not only vaping devices, but also nicotine patches, gums, and pouches since they also contain nicotine.

Causes of Vape Headaches

Vaping has become a popular way of enjoying nicotine as it doesn’t release any harmful tobacco byproducts. It also doesn’t involve combustion. The only thing that’s produced out of vaping devices is vapour or aerosol, which comes from heating e-liquid.

The heated e-liquid turns into vapour or aerosol. It then possesses a number of elements such as nicotine. E-liquid nicotine doesn’t come from tobacco leaves, at least for newer generations of vaping devices and their respective juices. Instead, it is made in the laboratory, making the highly addictive substance purer and less harmful than nicotine attained from tobacco.

Nicotine, in general, is absorbed into one’s bloodstream. As it reaches the brain and stimulates the adrenal glands, the well-liked substance produces epinephrine, which increases blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. It also provides a relaxing or calming sensation all at once.

All these effects may be short-lived, but one effect that can sometimes push vape users to stop vaping is headaches. And one of the potential reasons behind vape headaches is nicotine.

Disposable vapes and other types of e-cigarettes possess e-liquids with nicotine. While the substance can somehow make you feel good, it is only temporary. It can then cause vasoconstriction, narrowing blood vessels, and alternating blood flow. The change in your blood flow can occasionally cause headaches or even migraine.

But vape headaches may not only come from nicotine.

Vape headaches can also be due to dehydration. Dehydration happens due to the presence of PG and VG in e-liquids. These key ingredients of e-liquids, as discussed earlier, are known to effectively absorb moisture. So, once you exhale the vapour from your vaping device, you’re essentially getting rid of moisture from your body. Dehydration can then lead to headaches in a number of vape users.

Lastly, vape headaches may occur once you’re exposed to chemicals and additives in e-liquids. Some vape users like you might not know that they are sensitive to certain e-liquid ingredients. So, once they try vaping, they might be surprised by the number of health problems they experience. Substances like PG, VG, flavourings, and other additives may potentially trigger headaches or migraine for those who might be sensitive to these things.

Symptoms of Vape Headaches

Vape headaches typically occur during and after using e-cigarettes. But how can you differentiate them from other types of headaches?

People who experience vape headaches typically feel a dull pain. However, symptoms may still vary. As a matter of fact,some of them would experience more severe migraine headaches when vaping, although more medical studies are needed to confirm this.

Most of the time, vaping headaches may occur with the following characteristics:

• Throbbing or pulsating pain: Vaping headaches may pose a rhythmic or pulsating sensation, which most people would describe as a throbbing pain.
• Headache location: Headaches caused by vaping typically occur in various areas of the head such as the temples, forehead, and back of the head.
• Pain intensity: The intensity of vape headaches often ranges from mild to moderate. Although in a number of cases, vape headaches can become severe.

A number of vape users have reported that they experience vape headaches alongside other side effects such as sensitivity to light (photophobia), sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), nausea, or vomiting. Some may then experience insomnia, increased anxiety, dry mouth, cough, throat irritation, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath.

If you experience these side effects, your vaping headache might become more difficult to treat. They can also make the pain in your head feel more intense.

To manage a vape headache, you might want to find relief by applying a cold or warm compress to the head or neck area, drinking plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated, resting in a quiet, dimly lit place, taking over-the-counter pain relievers based on the recommended dosage, or avoiding triggers such as vaping, nicotine, or other substances that can cause headaches.

However, if you’ve managed to do these things but still experience headaches, you might want to see a doctor for a proper remedy. You must also see a doctor if you experience confusion, dizziness, or blurry vision alongside headaches, vomiting or diarrhea, a fever, a stiff neck, a persistent or worsening headache, a headache that began after a head injury, or a recurring headache despite taking meds.

Prevention of Vape Headaches

Clinging to your vaping habit might be one of your ways to relax a little bit, especially when you’re used to the hits of nicotine. So, if you’ve experienced vape headaches and want to prevent them from happening, there are a couple of things you can do.

• Stay hydrated: As mentioned, vape juice has key ingredients like PG and VG that can cause dehydration. Therefore, it’s important to drink plenty of water whenever you vape. It’s often recommended to take a few sips periodically during vaping to keep yourself hydrated. When you do this, you won’t have to worry about getting a vape headache.
• Manage nicotine intake: If you experience vape headaches from time to time, it might be due to consuming more nicotine than you actually need. To regulate your nicotine consumption, you can try putting your vaping device down between vaping sessions so you won’t have to vape mindlessly. You should also pay attention to the frequency of your vape hits. You can likewise try switching to a lower nicotine content to help reduce the amount of nicotine you consume.
• Monitor triggers: When you’re new to vaping, you might be tempted to try different flavours of e-cigarettes. However, some of them may include flavourings and ingredients that could trigger headaches and other sensitivity issues. If you get headaches from vaping, you might want to monitor key triggers by trying different e-liquids. You can first switch to an unflavoured e-liquid. If you don’t experience any headaches anymore, it means that you’re sensitive to some flavouring compounds. Alternatively, you can try going for an e-liquid that only uses VG as a base and contains no PG. If you don’t experience any headaches, it means that you’re sensitive to PG.
• Opt for quality products: Your vaping devices should come from a reputable store to ensure they feature high-quality and food-grade ingredients. When you opt for poorly manufactured or low-quality products, you might only experience headaches or other adverse effects since their e-liquid may contain impurities or chemicals.

At this point, you might not be ready to quit vaping. However, if you decide to do so, you might want to know the statistics behind it. Here are some quitting vaping statistics you should know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do disposable vapes give me a headache?

Disposable vapes can give you a headache due to a number of potential reasons. First, you might be consuming too much nicotine content. You might also be dehydrated. You could likewise be sensitive to certain chemicals in e-liquids such as propylene glycol and flavourings.

Can vaping cause frequent headaches?

Yes, vaping can cause frequent and recurring headaches, especially if your body has high levels of nicotine or has become dehydrated. The repeated stimulation of your nervous system by the highly addictive substance nicotine can only strain your blood vessels and muscles, triggering discomfort.

Summary

While disposable vapes are meant to provide users with calming nicotine hits, they can also trigger headaches due to a number of reasons. Some people may experience vape headaches due to dehydration. Others might experience headaches due to too much nicotine intake from vaping. You might then suffer from vaping headaches due to sensitivity to a number of e-juice ingredients.

Knowing the cause of your vape headaches is key so you can carry out steps that can help you manage and prevent them from occurring.

Additionally, it’s important that you only get disposable vapes from a reputable store. Luckily, Native Smokes 4 Less is here to provide you with high-quality disposable vapes.