Wondering why you feel woozy after vaping? You have nicotine to blame. When you vape, blood vessels constrict in response. So, less blood reaches your brain, and that’s what can leave you feeling a little off.
A stronger nicotine level means a more intense dizzy spell. But if your body has gotten used to it, you may not notice it as much.
So, what’s actually going on, and is there a way to manage the feeling? Let’s find out.
The science behind vaping and that dizzy feeling
You’ve seen the word “science” and now you’re thinking, uh-oh—time for the complicated stuff. Relax. We break it down in a simple way.
So, here’s the deal: Your brain has these tiny switches called receptors. Think of them like doorbells. When nicotine shows up, it rings the bell. That gets your brain to release something called dopamine, your body’s feel-good hormone. It chills you out, gives you a little high, and makes you feel alert.
But there’s a twist: dopamine and nicotine also raise your blood pressure. That might sound okay… except when blood pressure goes up, it can actually reduce the amount of blood flowing to your brain. Less blood up there = hello, dizziness.
And it doesn’t stop there. Your inner ear also gets less blood, and the lightheadedness sets in.
Increased dizziness from dehydration
Sometimes you get a dry mouth in addition to dizziness. It’s because of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) in your vape juice, which suck water from your cells. Dehydration reduces the volume of blood that reaches your brain and may lower your blood pressure in the long run. A combination of dehydration and the effects of nicotine may increase the feeling of dizziness and dry mouth.
Effects on new vapers
If you are just getting started with vaping and have not been smoking, you will experience dizziness for prolonged periods until your body adjusts to nicotine. The feeling of lightheadedness may also increase due to the following:
You vape high-nicotine e-liquids
If you start using e-liquids with high levels of nicotine, you are likely to have long periods of dizziness, particularly when your body is not used to it. Think of it like drinking strong coffee on an empty stomach. Not fun at all.
So, it’s good to begin with nicotine levels below 10 mg if you have never smoked. Also, take into account your nicotine tolerance and smoking history before selecting a strength.
Poor choice of vaping devices
What vape device do you use? You have a choice between mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping devices. DTL devices offer a deep, direct inhalation to your lungs—ideal for large clouds and high nicotine absorption. For a beginner, that can be overwhelming and lead to dizziness real fast.
MTL devices, on the other hand, have limited vape cloud inhalation. They are more controlled and gentler. Pick this one when getting started.
Why do experienced vapers feel dizzy?
You may feel dizzy, even if you have been vaping for some time, and here’s why:
- Increasing your nicotine strength: If you are planning to increase your nicotine intake, you will feel dizzy for a while, as your body takes a little longer to adjust to increased levels.
- Switching to Nic salts: Nic salts have high nicotine levels and deliver it faster than conventional e-liquids. Your body absorbs this nicotine faster than it would with e-liquids, which leads to dizziness.
- Vaping for too long: If you vape for too long, you take in lots of nicotine into your system beyond what your body can tolerate. It is good to take breaks between sessions to lower your nicotine intake.
- Changing to high-wattage vaping: When you crank up the wattage of your device, you increase the amount of nicotine that goes into your bloodstream. A sudden volume change may cause prolonged dizziness. So, increase the wattage gradually.
Wrapping it up
If dizziness is an issue when vaping, it is your body trying to manage your nicotine intake. It starves your brain of enough blood and oxygen. However, you can put the feeling under control with a few approaches. Cut down the frequency of your vapes and add breaks in between. Also, drink lots of water when vaping.
A beginner? Start with low nicotine amounts and move up slowly. Also, set your device to low wattage to reduce the amount of juice you pull with each puff. Listen to your body and cut back your nicotine intake when you feel woozy.