Help & Guidance

Why Does Vaping Make Me Cough?

Usually inhaling too sharply or too high a nicotine strength. Use a gentle mouth to lung draw, lower the strength, hydrate, and it usually settles.

Quote Now Call Us

Coughing when you vape is very common, especially when you are new to it, and it usually has a simple, fixable cause. Often it is the inhaling technique, a nicotine strength that is too high, or just your throat adjusting. This guide explains, alongside our guide on how to inhale a vape.

Why vaping makes you cough

There are a few common reasons. New vapers often inhale too sharply or deeply, like a cigarette drag straight to the lungs, which can catch the throat. A nicotine strength that is too high gives a harsh throat hit that triggers coughing. The propylene glycol in e liquid can also feel drying or scratchy for some, and simply being new means your throat is still adjusting.

Why vaping makes you cough

Cause	What helps
Inhaling too sharply	Use a gentle mouth to lung draw
Nicotine strength too high	Switch to a lower strength
Sensitive to PG	Try a higher VG e liquid
Dry throat	Drink water; stay hydrated
New to vaping	Ease in gently; it usually settles

How to stop the coughing

Start with technique: take a slow, gentle mouth to lung draw, holding the vapour in your mouth briefly before inhaling, rather than a sharp pull. If that does not fix it, try a lower nicotine strength, since too high a strength is a frequent cause, and consider a smoother, higher VG e liquid. Stay hydrated, slow down, and give yourself time, for most people the coughing settles as they get used to vaping.

Vaping makes many new vapers cough, usually from inhaling too sharply or too high a nicotine strength. Use a gentle mouth to lung draw, lower the strength, hydrate, and it usually settles.

Do and don’t

Do

• Take a slow, gentle mouth to lung draw
• Lower the nicotine strength if it feels harsh
• Try a smoother higher VG e liquid
• Stay hydrated and ease in gently

Try not to

• Inhale sharply or deeply like a big drag
• Use too high a nicotine strength
• Chain vape when your throat is irritated
• Push through if coughing is severe or persistent

Myths and facts

Myth	The reality
Coughing means vaping is harming you	It usually means technique or strength needs adjusting, and often settles.
A harsh throat hit is unavoidable	Lowering the strength and using a gentler draw reduce it.
Everyone coughs forever when vaping	For most people coughing settles as they get used to it.
Technique makes no difference	A gentle mouth to lung draw greatly reduces coughing for many.

Frequently asked questions

Why does vaping make me cough?

Usually because of inhaling too sharply, a nicotine strength that is too high, sensitivity to PG, or simply your throat adjusting.

How do I stop coughing when I vape?

Use a gentle mouth to lung draw, lower the nicotine strength, try a higher VG e liquid, stay hydrated, and slow down.

Is the nicotine strength too high?

Possibly, too high a strength gives a harsh throat hit that triggers coughing; dropping a level often helps.

Does coughing mean vaping is bad for me?

Not usually, it is most often technique or strength; if coughing is severe or persistent, speak to a GP.

Will the coughing stop?

For most new vapers it settles as they get used to it and adjust their technique and strength.

The bottom line

Coughing when you vape is very common, especially for new vapers, and usually has a simple cause: inhaling too sharply, a nicotine strength that is too high, sensitivity to the propylene glycol in e liquid, or just your throat adjusting. The fixes are straightforward: use a slow, gentle mouth to lung draw rather than a sharp pull, lower the nicotine strength if it feels harsh, try a smoother higher VG e liquid, stay hydrated and slow down. For most people the coughing settles with time, but if it is severe or persistent, speak to a GP.

More help and related reading

If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. If you are unsure about your device or situation, our team is always happy to help.

• How to inhale a vape
• Why do I feel sick after vaping?
• Is 20mg of nicotine a lot?
• Browse the full Help and Guidance library

Key things to remember

• Common for new vapers and usually fixable
• Often the inhaling technique or too high a strength
• Use a gentle mouth to lung draw
• Lower the strength or try higher VG
• Stay hydrated; it usually settles

Mouth to lung versus inhaling like a cigarette

A big cause of coughing is treating a vape like a cigarette and dragging the vapour straight into the lungs. Most beginner devices are designed for a mouth to lung draw: you draw the vapour gently into your mouth first, then breathe it in, much softer on the throat. Switching to this style alone stops a lot of coughing.

If technique is not the issue, the nicotine strength may be too high, giving a harsh throat hit, so dropping a level often helps. A smoother, higher VG e liquid can also be gentler. Give your throat time to adjust, and the coughing usually fades.

Coughing: cause and fix

Cause	Fix
Inhaling too sharply	Gentle mouth to lung draw
Strength too high	Drop a nicotine level
Sensitive to PG	Higher VG e liquid
Dry throat	Drink water
New to it	Give it time

A few more questions

Is it normal to cough when switching from smoking?

Yes, many switching smokers cough at first as the airways clear and they adjust their technique and strength; it usually settles.

Do and don’t

Do

• Take a slow, gentle mouth to lung draw
• Lower the nicotine strength if it feels harsh
• Try a smoother higher VG e liquid
• Stay hydrated and give it time

Try not to

• Inhale sharply like a deep cigarette drag
• Use too high a nicotine strength
• Chain vape on an irritated throat
• Ignore severe or persistent coughing

When coughing is more than adjustment

For most new vapers, coughing is simply a matter of adjusting technique, strength and getting used to the sensation, and it settles within days or weeks. Switching smokers may also cough at first as the airways clear, which is part of the change.

Occasionally, though, coughing is persistent, severe, or comes with other symptoms like breathlessness or chest pain. That is not something to push through, stop vaping and speak to a GP. It is always sensible to get persistent or worrying symptoms checked rather than assuming they will pass.

Settling versus seeing a GP

Situation	What to do
Mild cough, new vaper	Adjust technique and strength
Eases over days	Keep easing in gently
Persistent cough	Speak to a GP
Breathlessness or chest pain	Stop and seek advice
Worried	Get it checked

More questions answered

Can a lower strength really stop the coughing?

Often yes, since a harsh throat hit from too much nicotine is a common cause; dropping a level frequently helps.

Does the device matter for coughing?

Yes, a mouth to lung pod kit suits beginners and is gentler than a high power device, which is easier on the throat while you adjust.

---

A quick word on safety and the law

Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.

UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.

This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, please speak to a GP or pharmacist.