andybonse Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 Hey, My BP is always around 120/70-150/80 when standing/sitting. Laying 114/60 literally perfect in text books. Heart rate is 50-70 usually unless doing things, walking around etc. I've found my symptoms don't match with my numbers. I've found that when I have a cigarette which is only now and again, I feel my head becomes 'normal' not light headed, not dizzy just...nice lol like really normal. I'm thinking its the nictotine causing increased blood flow due to vasoconstriction, however Midodrine makes me worse! I think Midodrine constricts brain blood vessels in me making it worse. I was thinking of getting a e-cig/vape to try it out, I don't want to smoke and hate it, just usually have one if I had a beer or two! In my opinion it would be a safe, way of making me feel better if nothing else seems to be working. Anyone else found this? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vepa Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 I'd personally feel that the health risks of smoking outweigh any symptom relief. I guess vaping may be safer, but I think caffeine and nicotine have incredibly similar effects when it comes to vasoconstriction, and I would choose caffeine as the safer option. I know a lot of people use caffeine pills as a treatment option, and I personally find that adding an afternoon cup of coffee to my day minimizes my lightheadedness and dizziness quite well. It does raise your heart rate, which makes some people feel worse, but so does nicotine. Nicotine also gives you a much higher risk of blood clots and has other risks that caffeine does not. Of the two options, I would suggest you try the caffeine first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted November 13, 2017 Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 You can find other ways to increase your BP, like maybe caffeine, that don't have the negative effects of nicotine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombsh3ll Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 That's really interesting, I have never smoked and don't plan to start, but I would certainly try a nicotine patch or gum etc if it would improve my lightheadedness. Did you end up trying any other nicotine sources and did they help? I can't tolerate caffeine at all due to the diuretic effect and palpitations. My BP is also normal, not low. B x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StayAtHomeMom Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 I wouldn't recommend starting to smoke, but when i feel crappy when i smoke i feel better. I loved how the first cardiologist try to say my breathing issues were from my smoking and anxiety. I tried to explain my smoking helps and he wrote me off as a nut. Nicotine seems to be hit or miss for people though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Hi, Yes, nicotine helps. Nicotine helps me more than midodrine. There's a vasoconstrictive effect from nicotine, but also there's a cognitive stimulating effect. It's also easier to titrate your nicotine consumption to your needs - you can consume more until you're at the dose you're most comfortable with. I recommend using snus and not smoking or chew. Studies on Swedish snus suggest very few health risks. Now,I don't know if you can infer from the studies on Swedish snus that American snus is safer than cigarettes. I suspect it is, but I also wish I had the energy to drive down to the tobacco store and buy the Swedish stuff instead of just using what I can get at the gas startion. I also use nicotine patches - I'll cut a 21 mg patch into 1/4ths and use 1/4th per day. No cancer risk there, but harder to titrate your dosage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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