Ever since I made the switch from tobacco cigarettes to vaping, there are a number of changes I’ve noticed with my body. Most of them were positive and some of them were surprising. Keep in mind that my medical knowledge is pretty basic, so some of the things that I found surprising might have you going, “Well duh!” Now click on the video below of the Brady Bunch singing “Time to Change” as I discuss some of the side effects of switching from smoking to vaping.
One of the most immediate changes I noticed was a lower heart rate. Going by the inaccurate — but for the sake of casual observation, as good a measuring stick as any — heart rate monitors on the elliptical machines in my gym, I observed that my heart rate was significantly lower from when I was smoking. My standing heart rate and peak heart rate where anywhere from 15 to 25 beats per minute lower than before.
My sense of taste has surprisingly become more sensitive. Between smoking, having Indian roommates in college, and briefly living in Thailand, I was certain that my taste buds were mostly annihilated. These days, my spice tolerance is lower than it used to be. I noticed this the first time I ate at CoCo Ichibanya (my favorite Japanese curry chain) after I switched to vaping. When I was a smoker, I usually ordered spice level four, sometimes five. To my shock, spice level four is now mildly uncomfortable for me when it was a cakewalk in the past. While I’m happy that my sense of taste is more sensitive, I do feel less manly that my standard CoCo Ichi order is now a spice level three.
One of the changes I expected was that my teeth would be a bit whiter. Between smoking, coffee, and not having dental insurance, I was a little embarrassed by the color of my teeth. Thanks to vaping and my trusty Oral-B toothbrush, my teeth have gotten a bit whiter.
Anyway, those are some of the groovy changes I’ve noticed since I’ve been vaping. I’d love to hear from some of the vapers out there. I know that RPadholics N8R and Big Blak are current vapers, while CamiKitten is starting this week. If you guys and gals have noticed any changes with your bodies, please let me know. And if you don’t vape, please feel free to chime in with your comments as well!
First of all I have to say this. I totally listened to the Brady Bunch song while reading this and it was worth it! Rpad is truly an entertainer.
I find it a lot easier to breath. I know that seems stupid but it was the first thing I noticed. I have also been getting rid of some major phlegm over the last few weeks. It feels like a lung makeover!
My smell has always been great, or so I thought. I am now noticing very minute smells and the smells of yesterday are even stronger. I feel like a kid again, just smelling random ass aromas as I move about my day.
Lastly I have noticed that my blood pressure is dropping. How can I tell without going to the hospital you ask? Well when I was a children growing up in my children city of yesterday, I broke the hell out my ankle. My toes where facing my ass. Fast forward some pretty unhealthy years and now that ankle gets swollen. When I finally get to the doctors some years later, she tells me that I can use that as an indicator for my blood pressure. It isn’t swelling up like before and I can actually see what little bit of ankle I have left on my right side.
Long story short.
I LOVE VAPING!
Awesome stuff BB! I hope you stop smoking and keep vaping!!!
I haven’t had a tobacco cigarette in about two weeks. I was down to smoking one in the morning on a non work day and 3 to 5 on the weekends and Monday due to work. Now I just vape.
Yeah… I try to tell everyone who plans on making the switch that those first 2 or 3 mornings can really suck. I went through twice as much vape those first 2 days. I was determined not to have a cigarette so I toughed it out. I think if I would have had one of the ecigs that didn’t look and feel like a real cig, I couldn’t have done it.
I haven’t had a real cigarette since April 9 of this year. I started smoking in July of “92. After 20 years of smoking, these changes hit me like a brick.
The one change I’m just going to throw out on the table is… I can have sex longer without getting winded as fast. That’s a change I like alot.
The smell thing (like BB noted) was the one that blindsided me. I wasn’t expecting to be able to smell so well. I had been forewarned about the taste thing by people who had quit smoking, but they didn’t say a damn thing about the smell factor. I know that smell and visualization affects taste, but god damn. Unfortunately though, most of the smells I notice now are bad ones.
My house is easier for everyone to breathe in. I’ve always contested the layman theories and ONE study about second hand smoke, but nobody can say that smoking doesn’t replace air in a confined space with something else. Whether or not that replacement air causes cancer has never really been proven though.
The spicy food thing (like Ray noted), hit me out of nowhere too. I had to work my self back up to my previous level of spice tolerance.
One thing my brother noticed ( and why he stopped vaping) which I am now noticing is a cough that’s different from the smoker cough, but not normal at the same time. It’s not phlegm that’s be there for 20 years either. It’s very small amounts of liquid in my lungs. I’m sure it gets absorbed or gets it’s way out when I cough, but it still triggers something in my brain that startles me.
As per advice, by reading your articles, I’ve definitely been interested in vaping. My best friends fiance handed me one of his disposables to try last week, and it’s been a total change for me. So as you know, with your advice on where to go, I bought my starter kit which -should- be here tomorrow morning. And I’ve only had one cigarette this entire week. o_O Which is gonna be really needed since Final Fantasy XIV Online is shutting down its servers November 11 as Square Enix prepares to revamp it into “A Realm Reborn”. My linkshell (guild for those not accustomed to FF) is desperately trying to find ways to keep us all together b/c we don’t know how long the servers will be down. So I’m dying to smoke, and the vaping helps. A LOT. Thanks so much!
I’m so happy you’re vaping now! I hope it works out for you in the long haul. You know I’m here for you if you need pointers or advice. N8R has experimented a lot with juices too and I’m sure he’d be happy to help you transition to the vaping world. Yay Cami!!!
Absolutely!
I was thinking about picking up a menthol disposable one that i saw for sale at jewel (or albertson’s how it is in cali and possibly other states) but i had some questions. So with a disposable one can i buy catridges? Or is it only good for one use?
The disposable ones are usually meant as one-and-done products. It really depends on the battery connection though. Generally speaking, the e-cigs that I’ve seen at Walgreens, CVS, etc. are really overpriced. You’re much better off going with an online vendor. Let me know if you need recos. There are a lot of really good companies out there.
Yes please send recos. I was going to buy a disposable one with cartridges for $10.
Yeah, those disposable ones are garbage. Look for the longest warranty. That way, if it doesn’t stick with you or it breaks, they’ll just swap it out or refund you.