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HOW DOES VAPING AFFECT YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM?
The evidence for how vaping affects the digestive system needs to be bolstered, but vaping reduces saliva production and saliva acts as a pre-digestive force and lubricant. There are a few accounts out there where people talk about how ‘vaping ruined my stomach’, often focusing on vaping as the only potential cause without taking diet and lifestyle into consideration. More studies seem to be revealing the importance of gut health, with experts calling the gut our ‘second brain’, so it’s important to keep in mind that the first place to look at digestive issues is going to be your diet. If your diet is as good as it can be, and you are experiencing gastrointestinal distress, then this blog should help you establish if vaping could be the cause.
Vaping, like cigarette smoking, relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter which can lead to difficulty swallowing.Can vaping cause heartburn? Heartburn is when stomach acid climbs the esophagus, which can happen with a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter. However, one study found no significant difference between the E-Cigarette and control groups testing buccal and faecal bacteria, suggesting that vaping doesn’t significantly impact the culture of bacteria found in the gut. So: is vaping causing your stomach issues? Let’s find out!
INTRODUCTION
As e-cigarette use is on the rise, and is proving useful as a smoking cessation tool, the scientific community are investigating the effects of vaping on different aspects of health, and the effect on different parts of the body. Questions such as 'can vaping cause acid reflux?' Let’s discuss what the current research says about how vaping affects your digestive system and how we can solve vaping stomach issues.
WHAT IS VAPING?
The e-cigarette was invented by Hon-Lik in China - a smoker whose father died from smoking related causes - who wanted to find a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. The nicotine in tobacco is a highly addictive substance, and this is what keeps people coming back to cigarettes, so it was essential that the liquid used for vaping - known as e-liquid or ‘vape juice’ - contained nicotine so that it could be used as an effective substitute for tobacco.
CAN YOU OVER-VAPE? WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE HEALTH CONCERNS OF OVER-VAPING?
Over-using your vape could result in nicotine poisoning or vape stomach issues, if you are vaping e-liquid containing nicotine.
CAN VAPING LEAD TO NICOTINE POISONING?
Immediate symptoms of nicotine poisoning include feeling nauseous, stomach ache, higher blood pressure, dizziness, headache, faster heartbeat, quick heavy breathing, pale skin and mouth watering. Later stage symptoms include diarrhea, seizures, lethargy, feeling weak, slower heartbeat, shallow breathing, and lower blood pressure.
CAN VAPING CAUSE DIARRHEA?
If you manage to over-vape sufficiently to get nicotine poisoning, which is pretty hard using E-Cigarettes and e-liquids that adhere to the maximum legal strength of 2.0%, then vape diarrhea is a potential symptom. With regard to how to stop diarrhea from vaping: quit vaping until you feel better! Diarrhea is a late stage symptom of
nicotine poisoning so, in that way we can see vaping causing diarrhea. Try to put your vape out of sight so you aren't tempted to vape all day long, instead use your cravings to dictate when you have a vape session.
CAN VAPING CAUSE COUGHING?
Vaping can cause coughing for a variety of reasons, most of which can be addressed by some problem solving. From the balance of PG to VG, the nicotine strength and type of nicotine, to the style of device you use, these factors can create a situation where your vaping makes you cough.
Other problems could arise from low quality e-liquids - here in the UK there is strict regulation and testing for e-liquids, which is not the case for many other countries. One chemical that is prohibited for use in e-liquids in the UK is diacetyl - this is the chemical that causes the condition known as popcorn lung named so because it was first seen in workers in a popcorn factory. The examples of popcorn lung associated with vaping are all in countries with less restrictions, or none at all. One way to make sure the liquids you use are as safe as can be, is to buy liquids made in the UK.
CAN VAPING CAUSE STOMACH PAIN?
There is some evidence that e-liquid can cause an inflammatory response in the gut which could cause some discomfort. A 2021 study of the effects of nicotine free e-liquid on the gut barrier in organoids (1) - that’s multicellular construction of tissue designed to mimic a particular organ - from mice and human cultures. The study found that long term exposure to nicotine free vape aerosol increased inflammation and reduced the frequency and function of transmembrane proteins that control transport to other cells; an effect shared with cigarette smoke.
DOES VAPING CAUSE BLOATING?
Can vaping cause gas and bloating? Via dehydration, vaping is able to cause bloating. The primary mechanism that this can happen is due to the fact that dehydration can lead to constipation, which in turn leads to that bloated feeling. Water is so important and is used in almost every process in the body, so the answer here is to stay hydrated to avoid bloating!
For some people who already suffer from a condition like IBS, bloating is more likely so it is vital to ensure you are using a high quality product with the best ingredients available.
In individuals with sensitive stomachs or gastrointestinal issues, vaping may cause excess gas, and again this is mainly due to the dehydrating effect of vape aerosol.
WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT HOW VAPING AFFECTS YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM?
The effects of vaping on the human digestive system are still unclear, though studies are beginning to scrape the surface. A study published in 2018 in Texas examined the ‘effects of tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette vapor exposure on the oral and gut microbiata in humans’ (2) by looking at the bacterial profiles in samples from a control group, a tobacco use group, and an e-cigarette group.
The findings showed that cigarette smoke had a significant effect on the bacterial profiles in all sample types compared to the control group, and in the fecal and buccal swabs in comparison to the e-cigarette group. The study also found that there was no significant difference between the e-cigarette and control groups. This suggests that while e-cigarette aerosol may has a slight impact the gut biome, tobacco smoke has a more significant effect. This could indicate that e-cigarette use is safer for the gut than tobacco smoke!
The study also noted the increased relative amount of Prevotella bacteria which is associated with some chronic inflammatory conditions, including arthritis. The abundance of another group of bacteria known as Bacteroides was reduced, and these play an important role in breaking down food and producing valuable nutrients, and low levels of Bacteroides have been associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (3). The e-cigarette group did not show any significant difference when compared to the control group, adding to the evidence that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to smoking. This was a small study with each group containing 10 subjects, so further investigation is needed to validate these results.
Anecdotally, we have several customers at SMOKO who have experienced Lost Mary vape side effects, or side effects from other Chinese made vapes, citing pain and discomfort in the mouth and teeth. As oral health is part of your digestive health overall, stick to e-liquids made in countries with good regulation, like the UK!
WHAT ARE E-LIQUIDS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON DIGESTIVE HEALTH?
E-liquids are made up of Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerine (VG), flavourings and concentrated nicotine. Nicotine free liquids have the same composition, just without the nicotine! This is the case for the UK, at least - in countries with less regulation there may be other harmful chemicals added, like diacetyl, that are harmful to vape. There have been many instances in the United States where people have used vitamin E in addition to other chemicals, in order to add narcotics to their vape juice. Vitamin E is another chemical that has been linked to lung damage in vapers.
We know that you can overdose on nicotine if you vape too much, and this can lead to some unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness. If you have these symptoms, it may mean the nicotine strength in your liquid is too high. In a properly regulated market, like in the UK, the ingredients in e-liquid are as safe as possible. It is rare, but some people do have an allergy to propylene glycol, so 100% VG liquids are available for those who need to avoid PG.
One 2020 study looked at the effect of flavoured vs flavourless e-liquid on the growth of oral commensal streptococci and varied the nicotine content to make low nicotine concentration (5%) liquids and a high nicotine concentration (25%) liquids. The results showed that flavoured e-liquids harm the growth of friendly bacteria more than unflavoured e-liquids (4), negatively affecting the balance of oral bacteria, suggesting that oral health would be improved by using flavourless vape juice.
An earlier study from 2016 showed similar results, testing on gum tissue cultures, and found that flavoured e-cigarette aerosol caused more oxidative stress and inflammation than unflavoured e-cig aerosol (5), supporting the results from the 2020 study.
Other risks from vaping on the gut appear to be derived from the nicotine contained within. A study from Taipei Medical University hospital in Taiwan found that nicotine may encourage colon cancer metastasis (6) - this is the migration of cancer cells - so nicotine in e-liquids could contribute in a similar way.
It is important to keep in mind that these studies compared vaping to a control group of non-vapers. So even if some of the results suggested that the flavouring and e-liquids may have a negative impact on gut health when compared to not vaping, it is not comparing smoking to using an e-cigarette. Nor do they weigh up the massive health benefits from quitting smoking and switching to SMOKO E-Cigarettes. From a holistic point of view and as stated by Public Health England, "e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes".
VAPING AND GUT HEALTH
The gut health of vapers is becoming an increasing concern as more research highlights the potential risks. Vaping can disrupt the delicate balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, leading to various digestive issues. Users have reported experiencing stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea, which can be attributed to the changes in their gut microbiome.
The chemicals present in vape juice, such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, are known to cause inflammation in the gut. This inflammation can exacerbate conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, making it essential for vapers to be aware of these risks. To mitigate these risks, vapers should consider quitting vaping altogether or switching to a healthier alternative.
Maintaining a healthy gut is crucial for overall well-being, and the potential negative impact of vaping on gut health should not be overlooked. By being informed and taking proactive steps, vapers can protect their digestive health and improve their quality of life.
VAPING VS. TOBACCO SMOKE: A COMPARISON
While vaping is often promoted as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, it is important to understand that it still poses risks to the digestive system. Both vaping and tobacco smoke can cause changes in the gut microbiome, leading to digestive issues such as stomach pain and nausea.
However, vaping has some unique risks. For instance, the potential for nicotine poisoning is higher with e-cigarettes, especially if users over-vape.
In comparison, tobacco smoke has been shown to have a more significant impact on the gut microbiome, but this does not mean vaping is without its dangers. Ultimately, both vaping and smoking traditional cigarettes pose risks to digestive health.
HOW TO VAPE AND MAINTAIN DIGESTIVE HEALTH
So how can we maintain digestive health, nicotine gut health with a vaping habit in tandem? The gut biome is getting a lot of attention recently, as more studies draw links between the health of the gut and many areas thought not associated with it, like the development and upkeep of the immune system. This gives reason to the need for a balanced, healthy diet; and illustrates why people should often look to their diet first to solve issues like feeling run down, frequent headaches and many other minor ailments.
It is possible that discomfort could be caused by the effects of nicotine and the signals the brain is sending to the stomach. Some users have reported instances of stomach ache and heartburn, particularly in the morning, and reported solving the issue by having some food before vaping. But how does nicotine affect digestive system is still not 100% clear. People who experience nicotine stomach problems should also look at their overall diet!
At this stage, it is not known if the flavours encourage the brain to think that food needs to be digested, and therefore triggers production of stomach acid, causing discomfort as the acid sits in the stomach without food to digest.
Vaping (and smoking) relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which is the ‘valve’ that keeps your stomach acid from climbing the esophagus. Vaping also reduces saliva production, which is significant because saliva serves to not only wash down acid that has risen up the esophagus, but neutralise that acid too. Drinking plenty of water is how to stop heartburn from vaping, but it's always a good idea to stay well hydrated when switching to an e-cigarette from traditional cigarettes.
To minimise the chances of experiencing some of these issues, choosing the right device and liquids is a good place to start. A low powered device produces less vapour, so reduces the volume of aerosol taken into the lungs, in turn reducing the amount of vapour that could cause damage. If vaping is the way you get your nicotine, using a low powered device with a high strength liquid will give you the most satisfaction from the smallest amount of vapour.
Using a high powered device will increase the amount of vapour, allowing more to interact with the surface area of the lungs. The high powered devices may also see metals making their way into the aerosol, and this would result from the degrading of a coil, so users should make sure they always have a new coil ready to go.
But can vaping give you a stomach ache? Or can vaping cause bowel inflammation? It is proven does nicotine speed up digestion but some people may get stomach cramps vaping too much. In terms of how to stop stomach pain from vaping, eating well to maintain your digestive health is the biggest concern, however using products like CBD Oral Drops could help to reduce inflammation in the gut and contribute to a healthy digestive system.
The regulation of e-liquids in the UK market is of a high standard, so to ensure only the safest ingredients in your vape juice, buy UK made. Many of the attention-grabbing headlines that make the mainstream news have come from places without such regulation, like the United States.
HOW VAPING AFFECTS YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM - CONCLUSION
At present, more studies need to be done to investigate the effects of vaping on the digestive system. From the studies that have been carried out, it would appear that the flavourings found in vape juice can have a minor negative impact on oral and gut bacterial growth, and cause more oxidative stress and inflammation than unflavoured e-liquids.
In conclusion, vaping can have a significant impact on the digestive system, leading to changes in the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut and causing digestive issues such as stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. The chemicals present in vape juice, such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, have been shown to cause inflammation in the gut, which can contribute to conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Many of the other negative effects of vaping are associated with nicotine rather than the aerosol that contains it. As smoking causes approximately 78,000 deaths a year in the UK, establishing safer alternatives is a worthwhile effort, and it would appear that e-cigarette aerosol, while not 100% perfect, is less damaging to the gut biome and digestive health than tobacco smoke.
So if you are ready to choose an alternative that is at least 95% less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, have a look at our E-Cigarette Starter Kit that has helped 1,000's of people around the world to kick the habit for good!
REFERENCES
(1) Review article: impact of cigarette smoking on intestinal inflammation
(2) Effects of tobacco smoke and E-Cigarette vapour exposure on the oral and gut microbiata in humans
(3) Lower level of bacteroides in the gut microbiata is associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
(4) Flavourless vs. flavoured E-Cigarette generated aerosol and E-liquid on the growth of common oral commensal streptococci
(5) E-Cigarettes and flavourings induce inflammatory and pre-senescence responses in oral epithelial cells and periodontal fibroblasts
(6) Nicotine and colon cancer cell migration
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Dan Overgage
Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes. Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking. During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.
