If you’ve vaped before, you may have experienced an unpleasant headache afterward. Some people dismiss this as being down to tiredness or spending too much time on screens. However, the cause may be vaping.
In this guide, we set out to answer the question: can vaping cause headaches?
We look at the chemicals in vapes to see if they could contribute to the development of migraines and other types of headaches. We also look at scientific studies on the subject, what to do if you suffer from vaping headaches, and answer your most frequently asked questions.
What Is A Vaping Headache And What Does It Feel Like?
A vape-related headache is a type of pain that can occur either as a direct or indirect result of smoking vape pens or e-cigarettes.
The most commonly described symptoms include:
- Dull pain
- Painful throbbing
- Pressure-like pain
The level of headache can be severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life, like work and study.
Sometimes headaches can arise right after vaping, which can give you a clear indication as to the cause. However, sometimes headaches can develop hours later, which can muddy the waters.
The chemicals in vapes have the potential to interact with your body in lots of different ways, as well as headaches. It’s therefore important to be mindful of any feelings of dizziness, nausea or fatigue. Combined with headaches, this could give you the clearest indication that your body is rejecting the chemicals found in vapes, which we explore in greater detail next.
Understanding Nicotines Effects On The Body
The main ingredient found in vapes is nicotine. Sometimes a synthetic version is used. Regardless of its origin, nicotine is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that affects our central nervous system.
When we inhale nicotine, it enters our bloodstream right away, which gives that buzz, and sometimes, feelings of increased alertness and improved focus.
However, once your body begins to process the nicotine, there’s the potential to experience different symptoms, which have the potential to contribute to headaches. They are:
- Dehydration – Nicotine can act as a diuretic, meaning you need to urinate more often. This can dehydrate you, and dehydration can cause headaches.
- Vasoconstriction – One of the biggest impacts nicotine has on our bodies is that it causes our blood vessels to constrict, which limits blood flow to the brain. This can cause headaches.
- Withdrawals – As we explore in greater detail below, if you’re trying to quit vaping, you may experience headaches due to a drop and adjustment in nicotine levels.
Can Vaping Cause Headaches?
So, can vaping cause headaches?
Now that we understand the chemicals found in vapes, let’s look closer at how they could cause headaches.
It isn’t a simple yes or no answer. Different contributing factors could influence the likelihood of a headache. Here’s a helpful breakdown of the factors that could trigger a headache after vaping:
- Nicotine Levels – if you’ve vaped before and felt fine, but all of a sudden have started to get headaches, check to see the nicotine levels in the vape liquid you’re smoking. It may be that a lower level works better for you, whereas the higher level overstimulates your brain, which can trigger headaches.
- Overuse – given how easy it is to vape, it’s not uncommon for users to enjoy prolonged or excessive use. This can all happen without realising the effect it has on your body, until you begin to get symptoms like headaches. If you’re vaping a lot and experiencing regular headaches, then this could be related.
- Chemicals In Flavoring – as well as nicotine, there are lots of other chemicals found in vape pens and e-cigs. Some of those relate to flavoring. Sometimes their chemical properties can change when heated up, which could trigger a headache. Research is still ongoing into the impact of vape flavoring agents on the body.
- Propylene Glycol Sensitivity – another key ingredient in vapes is propylene glycol (PG). Some people are allergic to this ingredient. As well as irritating your throat and lungs, it can sometimes lead to headaches.
- Dehydration – vaping can contribute to the dehydration of your body, and as mentioned above, this can lead to headaches.
Vaping has been associated with different types of headaches too. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Vaping And Cluster Headaches
A cluster headache is a severe type of headache which is often associated with intense, stabbing pains around one eye or the side of the head. Research into the cause of cluster headaches is ongoing, but early investigations suggest they involve the hypothalamus and the trigeminal nerve.
While these parts of the brain aren’t directly related to vapes, the fact that vaping can limit the flow of blood to the brain could have a consequential effect which may trigger a headache in susceptible people.
Can Vaping Cause Tension Headaches
A tension headache is a more common type of headache. They’re described as feeling like a band of pressure around the head. The most common causes are stress, muscle tension and poor posture. However, vaping has been queried in recent times, again for its ability to impact the flow of blood to the brain.
Tension headaches can also be exacerbated by the likes of dehydration, which vaping can cause.
Chronic, Daily And Constant Headaches
There have been some reports of people vaping but also experiencing chronic, daily headaches. Again, there is no definitive connection between vaping, but some impacts could be a contributing factor.
For example, consistent and high use of nicotine can lead to the overstimulation of your brain which can provoke headaches. Nicotine withdrawals can also contribute.
The act of vaping may also expose any allergies or sensitivities you have to certain chemicals found in vapes, like PG. So if you’re experiencing constant headaches while vaping, it could be down to this.
Vaping And Migraines
Some people have also called into question the relationship between migraines and vaping. Migraines are a neurological condition associated with intense, throbbing headaches accompanied by nausea and sometimes light sensitivity.
If you’re susceptible to migraines, vaping’s effect on the body could prove a damaging factor. Here are three ways it could affect you:
- Narrowing Of Blood Vessels – when you vape, your blood vessels constrict, and this can reduce the amount of blood your brain receives. This in itself could trigger a migraine in a susceptible person.
- Allergies And Sensitivities – certain chemicals found in vapes could act as a migraine trigger if you’re allergic to them.
- Overstimulation – ingesting too much nicotine at too high a level could prove too much for your brain to cope.
The most important thing to do is to look at what you did in the build-up to your last migraine. Did you vape a lot? Did you try a new vape pen with a higher nicotine level? These questions can help narrow down the cause.
Can Stopping Vaping Cause Headaches?
It’s possible that in stopping vaping you begin to experience headaches. There is a greater chance of this happening to those who regularly smoke or use nicotine products.
Headaches, along with irritability and fatigue, are common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and often go away on their own after a few days or weeks as your body adjusts to not having nicotine.
Sometimes people use nicotine gum or patches to help manage these symptoms, which you may find useful too.
What To Do If You Get A Headache From Vaping
If you do get a headache from vaping, then there are some steps you can take to try and get rid of it or to try and reduce its effect.
- Drink Water – there’s a chance the headache could have been triggered by dehydration, so drink a couple of pints of water and see how you feel.
- Adjust Nicotine Levels – if you’re smoking a vape that has a high level of nicotine, try one that has a lower level and see how you feel.
- Limit Vaping Sessions – if you’re smoking a lot, try to limit yourself and have breaks between sessions
- Switch Ingredients – you may be susceptible to certain ingredients found in vapes, so try different products to see how you feel
- Consult A Doctor – if your headaches persist even after trying different things, it may be time to get medical advice.
Get Help Quitting Vaping
If you’re looking for help quitting vaping, there is a lot of support out there. A good starting place is the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has a very informative and helpful guide on quitting.
If you’re looking for help beyond that, you could look to join a vaping support group. There, you can access advice and get support from people who are also trying to quit. You can discuss symptoms like headaches and find ways to combat them. A good way to find local support groups is by getting in touch with your local American Lung Association office.
If you’re trying to help someone else quit smoking—your child perhaps—then you may find that the steps you’ve taken haven’t worked. If you’re looking for extra help and support, you could try a vape detector, such as those we make here at Triton Sensors. If you limit their ability to vape, then it forces them to kick the habit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions about vaping and headaches.
Can Secondhand Vaping Cause Headaches?
Research is still ongoing as to whether secondhand vaping can cause headaches. However, given that the vapor contains nicotine and chemicals, if that’s in the same air and atmosphere as other people, there’s a chance that they can be exposed.
Can Vaping Cause Headaches And Nausea?
Yes, vaping can cause both headaches and nausea. This is often down to excessive nicotine intake or a sensitivity to e-liquid ingredients. You can try reducing nicotine levels and also different e-liquids which may help alleviate these symptoms.
Can Vaping Cause Headaches And Dizziness?
Headaches and dizziness are common side effects of nicotine overuse or dehydration from vaping. Taking breaks, staying hydrated, and lowering nicotine strength can help reduce these effects.
Can Vaping Cause Sinus Headaches?
Vaping can irritate the nasal passages and sinuses, potentially leading to sinus headaches. This is more likely if the vapor contains irritants or allergens. Switching to a different e-liquid or reducing vaping frequency may help.