does vaping count as smoking?

[furrytampon]

a GP refused to prescribe the combined pill as I have 3 risk factors: I’m 36 (so over 35 obv), my BMI is 28, and I’m a smoker.

Except I haven’t smoked since 2010 but she said ‘vaping counts as smoking’. she will only prescribe the progesterone only pill. I wanted to go back on the combined pill to help with PCOS symptoms. I’m trying to reduce my BMI but PCOS makes it really hard, plus I have acne which the progesterone only pill can worsen.

i obviously understand that it’s up to her what she prescribes or doesn’t but I’m puzzled by the vaping thing. Does this ‘count’ medically if that makes sense? a previous GP didn’t count it as one of the tick boxes when doing an assessment for a statin. I’m confused!

Seeing as how it still uses nicotine (and usually used as a smoking reduction aid like gum) I would say yes its the same. It might do less harm but its still harmful.

I'm not a doctor but a quick search suggests that vaping is still a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, albeit lower than cigarettes.

I see, thank you both. I think I was thrown by it not counting in the statin assessment. Id better quit vaping then!