AIBU to be surprised doctors ask about smoking but not vaping?

I have vaped and never smoked. I would still answer no to ever having smoked. I have never used nicotine. If its important to someone that they know I have vaped, they would need to ask me specifically as I think of them as different things entirely.

I agree with you OP. I was asked if I smoked I'd say no. I used to smoke, I now vape, and the experience of both is very different. With smoking you can feel irritation, a cough etc. with vaping you feel the same whether you've recently vaped, vape less or more recently etc. I'm not saying vaping isn't harmful but it doesn't feel harmful so lots of people see the two things very differently. I would probably volunteer that I vape but i wouldn't answer yes to smoking.

Might be practice-specific? It doesn't matter what reason I go in to see my GP or practice nurse, the first thing they ask is am I still not smoking or vaping, and what is my weight. Every single time.

I used to complete health questionnaires with patients.

I used to say something along the lies of 'Have you ever smoked including cigarettes, vapes, marijuana or any other tobacco products?'. For vapes, I'd clarify if it was with nicotine or not. I agree with others though, it should be clear what is being asked, because some people see vaping as smoking, whereas others wouldn't.

I don't think medics are as concerned about vaping as they are about cigarette smoke. I know some of my relatives definitely don't think they "smoke" but they do vape. It's not the same at all they say. Medics rarely ask if you smoke weed do they?

Totally with you OP. I suspect a young vaper who had never smoked would answer No to that question. DH is pretty senior in NHS - I’m going to ask what they ask in his hospital.

Smoking covers vaping, most people would say they vape if asked about smoking, especially in a respiratory appointment. If you don't its your own stupid fault if you don't get the correct treatment

I would assume they are classed as one and the same for the purposes of a health questionnaire or doctors query.

You'd have to be incredibly pedantic or evasive to answer "No" because you don't buy Benson & Hedges, knowing fine well you puff away all day on your candyfloss vape.

I would imagine someone who vapes would answer yes to the question "are you a smoker?". I might be ignorant as I don't do either but I consider both smoking.