PG - Propylene Glycol - Maybe cause of my heart palpitations?

[eeMGee]

Hi,

I've been vaping for many many years, for the first few even at high nicotine level (20mg) chain vaping pretty much. I mixed my own e-juices and my base was always ~85% VG (vegetable glycerin) + 15% PGA (Pure Grain Alcohol). I used the PGA to dilute the viscosity of the juice, and also heard it gives a good throat hit.

I never had any weird health issues and actually quit smoking analogs (only minor thing was when I very first got e-cigs, might of OD'd a little cuz I got a bit queasy... but that passed quickly if I took a break for 10 min or so...).

Recently, I started to get heart palpitations, and they started the day I started driving down to a new job... I figured maybe it was anxiety. But, they persisted for several months.

I never considered it to be from vaping, because I had been using for so long, but eventually it seemed like maybe it was because it seemed like when I was vaping the heaviest they got worse.

It got me thinking, that shortly before I left on the trip, I changed my mix to ~ 75%VG + 25% PG, the PG to replace the PGA because I didn't have any on hand, and the PG is less viscous than VG so would serve the same purpose.

You have to understand I was going through in my head all the things that have changed in my life / diet / etc...

So with this possibility, I made up a bottle with my old recipe (with a small amount of PGA I had left). And it seems to have mostly fixed the problem. (I do have real anxiety sometimes, and my stomach gives me issues too..). But before the switch it was almost constant. Now it is very rare.

I was wondering if any others had issues with PG?,

 

[katwb]

I have to say that my stomach has been giving me problems to since I started vaping - almost a burning type feeling and the only thing that seems to help is either an antacid or eating a little something - I also seem to have nervious times - almost like I am having withdrawels (I was on pain meds for years due to medical issues so I am well aw are of what withdrawels feel like as I am no longer taking them) anxiety really bad at times. I have associated mine to stress....but I can't be sure. I also have notice since I started vaping that I sleep very little - but again also don't know if that is stress related as I started vaping at the same time I moved to a different city.
I was told once by a doctor that you can be not allergic to something one day - and after time and it building up in your system .... suddenly you are.
I would say to speak with your doctor - my current problem is they will say "its possible" and I leave with no real answer just $60 broker - still with all the above issues.
Good luck to you

 

[JustMeB]

The first medicine I ever took for asthma has PG in it. It made me nauseated, and my heart to race as well. I had changed medication for asthma several times until I could find one that I could tolerate. So it's not uncommon, but I do agree with the above post as well. I'd go see your doctor just to be on the safe side.

 

[Katmar]

I agree with the above posters. Can't hurt to see a doctor. Better safe than sorry. Probably related to the PG, but you want to be sure.

 

[diabolique]

This may sound strange but I get heart palpitations when I use VG.
But best to see a Dr. I saw mine and had to be put on High Blood Pressure meds 2 months ago.

 

[rolygate]

You don't say why you haven't consulted your physician about the palpitations? Logic seems to suggest the following:

- See doctor
- Get tests done that Dr requests
- If no obvious solution then ask for a full blood panel (full set of blood tests)
- If still no medical solution then try zero nicotine, and then gradually re-introduce it
- Cut down on coffee
- Especially, cut down on coffee + nicotine
- Finally, remove PG and try 100% VG refills; or remove VG and try 100% PG.

Your palpitations don't seem to be a serious issue for you, as you haven't seen a doctor, and you're still standing. However they can easily mask something far more serious that you need to know about.

The simplest explanation is that too many simultaneous stimulants are causing the problem. The next most likely explanation is that you have some other medical condition that is causing palpitations, and there are dozens of possibilities there. PG intolerance of this type is so rare that it is going to be less than 1 in 1,000,000 and therefore more likely to be something else.

Finally, get different refills from different vendors. It may be that something in the mix disagrees with you.

 

[stevegmu]

As people age, medical conditions manifest... PG is in so many things not vape related, I can't imagine it is the cause of so many ills, as many seem to think...

 

[Maiar]

Hmm. I doubt PG would be the root cause of heart palpitations. If they first manifested on your drive to a new job then stress would be my most likely culprit. That can cause palpitations. The PG and nicotine in the juice may be making it worse though even if they aren't the direct cause.

But that's just my best guestimate. Like others have said, have a doctor check you out.

Hope all is well!

 

[alopezg1]

seems doubtful... I have heart palpitations ... I seem to go through phases of getting them and they are unpleasant . I know it isn't related to cigarettes
alcohol caffeine etc , because I have eliminated all these from my 'diet' ... I have had ekg's done and a holter monitor fitted ....still none the wiser . It scares the .... out of me sometimes . As far as i can tell , it seems to be smething to do with digestion and food ,in my case , as far as i can tell.... I f i haven't eaten for a long time and am very hungry and stand up quickly, it can happen. Sometimes If i eat after a long period of abstinance it happens , it is to do with the vagus nerve or something pressing against another nerve causing the heart rate to alter/increase .

 

[AndriaD]

I've suffered from time to time with palpitations, for many years. When they first started, I still had insurance, so I went the whole doctor/ultrasound route. They never could find anything really wrong with me, and hypothesized that one of my heart valves is marginally weaker than the others, so in times of stress, it manifests as palpitations. And it does seem to be related to excessive stress and/or excessive caffeine consumption, so that seems a reasonable guess.

Rather than the PG, I would guess the nicotine is the culprit, or as rolygate said, nicotine+caffeine, or maybe other additives in the flavors of your ejuice. Perhaps you are simply becoming more sensitive to nicotine, and in times of stress, it shows up as palpitations -- because if going on a job interview isn't stressful, I dunno what is. Maybe you vape more when you're stressed, so you're getting more nicotine without really realizing it, until your heart starts feeling it's going to jump right out of your chest.

The only reason I would think PG could be the cause is if you have a hitherto-unknown allergy to it, but it would most likely produce a lot of other and different symptoms if that were the case. There are some with actual allergies to PG, but for the most part, PG is a fairly inert, benign substance -- which is why they put it into asthma inhalers, and disinfect hospital air with it.

If you're really worried about it, that can amp up your stress and anxiety, thus making the palpitations worse -- so it probably would be a good idea to see your doc about it, maybe get a cardiac ultrasound, just to rule out anything really major. Maybe hypertension? Hypertension grown worse?

Andria

 

[Alicenwonderland]

My guess would be nicotine more than anything. I get palpitations when I'm over niced.

 

[LiquidElectron]

Yep, that'd be my best guess from my years of hypochondriac-internet-doctoring. It's hard to tell exactly how much Nicotine you hit daily (unless, of course it's 0). I used to just get palpitations from anxiety, but I haven't in years. That sound you just heard after that sentence was me knocking on wood.

I do get fabulous itching from PG, though, nothing bad so far from VG.