Can Vaping Cause High Blood Pressure?

Yes — and here’s why. Nicotine in vape products speeds up your heart rate and makes your blood vessels constrict. That combination can raise your blood pressure, even if you only take a few puffs a day. Over time, regular vaping can turn those temporary spikes into long-term heart problems.

Knowing how vapes affect your blood pressure can help you make informed choices about your health. Here’s what to know about vaping and how it can impact your blood pressure.

What Happens to Your Blood Pressure When You Vape?

Nicotine in vape products makes your heart pump faster and your blood vessels constrict, which can cause quick spikes in blood pressure. This can sometimes last up to 30 minutes, and you usually can’t tell it’s happening.

Vaping just a few times can raise your heart rate and BP, and daily use keeps your cardiovascular system working overtime. An American Heart Association study shows that young adults who vape regularly tend to have slightly higher blood pressure than non-vapers. Those “small” increases may not feel urgent now, but, over time, they can strain your heart and blood vessels.

Is Vaping Linked to Long-Term High Blood Pressure?

Recent studies have told us that it is. In the largest study to date on vaping, Johns Hopkins Medicine analyzed the health data of over 249,000 people during a four-year period. No surprise, those who vaped daily had a higher risk of high blood pressure compared to non-vapers. And for those who vaped andsmoked? Their risk skyrocketed when compared to both groups.

Vaping may feel less harmful than smoking, but it can still negatively impact your health over time, especially if you use it every day.

Does Smoking Raise Blood Pressure Too?

Yes, and it’s actually worse for your heart than vaping. Like vape products, cigarettes contain nicotine, but unlike vapes, they also have carbon monoxide and other toxins. These toxins can put extra strain on your heart, making it harder for it to function properly.

Smoking doesn’t just raise your blood pressure in the short term; it also damages blood vessels, stiffens arteries, and increases your long-term risk of heart disease or your chances of a heart attack or stroke. That’s why medical experts (and the team here at Jones) strongly recommend quitting smoking as one of the best things you can do for your heart and overall health.

Vaping Impact vs. Smoking Impact on Blood Pressure

Factor	Vaping (Nicotine)	Smoking (Cigarettes)
Nicotine effect	Raises heart rate & blood pressure temporarily	Same, but combined with harmful combustion byproducts
Other chemicals	Can contain flavorings, solvents	Contains carbon monoxide and thousands of toxins
Blood pressure spikes	Frequent with regular use	Frequent and often more sustained
Long-term BP impact	Linked to increased risk of hypertension	Linked to long-term hypertension and heart strain
Quitting benefit	BP improves within days to weeks	BP and heart health improve quickly after quitting

How to Lower Your Blood Pressure—Whether or Not You’re Using Nicotine

Whether you’re trying to quit nicotine or just want to protect your heart, these quick strategies can help lower your blood pressure and keep them in a healthier range.

Try nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products like patches, gum or Jones nicotine mints) - If you are using nicotine, you can gradually taper off with (NRT) products that slowly reduce your intake in a controlled, smoke-free way. This is the easiest and most effective way to quit vaping and smoking.
Drink more water – more water means better heart function.
Get some movement daily – even a walk can bring your BP down and reduce stress.
Practice slow breathing or mindfulness – slow, controlled deep breathing calms your nervous system.

Watch your salt – too much sodium can keep your BP elevated.

How Long Does It Take for Blood Pressure to Drop After Quitting?

Within 20 minutes of your last nicotine hit, your blood pressure may drop. Over the next few days to weeks, those numbers can continue trending down, until they reach a healthy range–especially when you combine quitting with other healthy habits like hydration, exercise, and stress reduction.

Do NRT Products Raise Blood Pressure?

A little, but not nearly as much as vaping or smoking. Jones nicotine mints, and other NRT products might cause a slight, short-term bump in blood pressure, but it’s far smaller than the spike from inhaling nicotine. Because NRTs deliver nicotine slowly and without sending chemicals into your lungs, they’re much easier on your cardiovascular system. Most experts agree they’re a safer option for people who want to quit nicotine while protecting their heart health.

How Does Vaping Affect Heart Health?

Vaping puts stress on your heart. Nicotine causes your heart to beat faster (and not in a good way) and your blood vessels to narrow. When this happens, your blood can’t flow as well. Over time, that extra strain can lead to higher blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and even heart disease. Even if you’re young and otherwise healthy, regular vaping can still impact your heart function. And while it may seem safer than smoking, vaping still puts your cardiovascular health at risk — especially if it’s a constant habit.

The Link Between Vaping and Blood Pressure

Smoking — either vape products or cigarettes — puts your heart under pressure. Both contain nicotine, which increases your blood pressure, stresses out your cardiovascular system, and can increase your risk of long-term heart problems, such as heart disease, hypertension, and kidney disease.

The good news? You can start lowering your blood pressure and start quitting nicotine today. Jones nicotine mints give you a clean, smoke-free way to curb cravings in two distinct flavors: Classic Mint or Cherry. If you are thinking about quitting or cutting back, you don’t have to do it alone.

The free Jones app gives you a personal quit plan, uses science-backed behavioral strategies to help you form new healthy habits, and tracks your progress. Plus, you can connect with a real community inside the app for support whenever you need it.

Start your quit journey today →

FAQs

Does vaping raise blood pressure even if I only do it sometimes?

Yes—even occasional vaping can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure. Regular spikes can lead to long-term issues over time.

Is nicotine-free vaping safe for blood pressure?

Nicotine-free vapes may reduce some cardiovascular risks, but there’s not a lot of research on this. Vape additives and flavorings could still irritate blood vessels or affect heart health.

How common is popcorn lung from vaping?

It’s rare, but possible. Chronic irritation and coughing from vaping are far more common and may lead to other respiratory conditions.

Why does vaping make my heart race?

Nicotine is a stimulant that activates your nervous system, causing your heart to beat faster. This can temporarily raise blood pressure and increase stress on your heart.