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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

34 replies

CassandraWebb · 23/09/2026 10:43

I've had a hospital stay and a few appointments recently because of breathing issues. We are pretty sure they are caused by my rare condition but understandably doctors want to check for other contributing factors.

One thing that has struck me is that they ask whether I smoke /have smoked but they don't ask about vaping. I don't do either but I had understood vaping can cause breathing issues and it's so prevalent now that I feel surprised they don't ask

OP posts:
BlueSlate · 23/09/2026 13:12

Lifesd · 23/09/2026 12:11

Hotel rooms say no smoking or vaping - so they differentiate!

So do train stations.

Original poster
CassandraWebb · 23/09/2026 13:42

Sorry I posted this thread and then forgot about it!!

It's been interesting reading the responses.
I guess the knowledge about harm maybe is too nascent for now but I would feel it was pretty relevant info if someone has breathing issues

OP posts:
Original poster
CassandraWebb · 23/09/2026 13:43

Deadleaves77 · 23/09/2026 10:47

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

For the avoidance of doubt - I definitely dont vape!

But I am not sure it can be assumed that someone would think to answer "no but I vape" if asked whether they smoke.

OP posts:
Redflagsabounded · 23/09/2026 13:52

I've had some medical stuff this year and thought the same thing. Smoking isn't the same thing as vaping. I do always offer 'but I do vape'. Nicotine isn't harmless; there's a lot of evidence that it slows healing/clearing viruses etc. vaping is a relevant risk factor for quite a lot of medical stuff because of that.

Eg. I had a g.a. in Jan and the advice was to stop smoking or vaping 3 days beforehand. I needed to clear a long term virus as well and I was strongly advised to stop vaping any nicotine.

How hard is it to change the question?

MatronPomfrey · Yesterday 12:13

I used to be a nurse and the trust I worked for changed the admission forms to ask if someone smoked and/or vaped. Partly so we could let them know they had to go outside if they vaped, many were trying to do it on the ward.

LilyBunch25 · Yesterday 12:17

FlowerMug · 23/09/2026 11:01

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.

Agreed. Same here. And from a medical point of view the ramifications of smoking vs vaping are very different so they do differentiate between the two.

fumingrightnow1 · Yesterday 12:39

You're meant to say no but i vape when they ask this question

Ayarreet · Today 00:56

fumingrightnow1 · Yesterday 12:39

You're meant to say no but i vape when they ask this question

I agree. I always volunteer the info, then they just shrug because vaping isn't smoking and doesn't carry the systemic threat of smoking.
Not yet, anyway.

Thecatspantaloons · Today 01:15

When it comes to the general public, in this setting, you absolutely have to imagine everyone is 5 years old - sounds patronising as hell but even illiterate people need medical treatment.
Do you drink , should be Do you drink alcohol .

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