A doctor has shared an x-ray of a potentially fatal condition which can be caused by vaping.
By now, we're all very aware that habits such as smoking and vaping are not good for us. Ever since the candy flavoured e-cigarettes became popular amongst young people; countless amounts of warnings, restrictions and even outright bans have been rolling in as health experts scramble to understand more about what vaping does to our bodies.
One of the more concerning side effects linked to vaping over the past couple of years is something called 'popcorn lung' - and it can be fatal.
What is 'popcorn lung'?
Popcorn lung is the popular name for a condition called bronchiolitis obliterans, which is a rare form of disease that sees scarring and inflammation of the bronchioles, the lung's smallest airways.
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Once the airways become inflamed they are no longer able to expel carbon dioxide from the lung, which can lead to a fatal build up. This differs from other vaping or smoking related illnesses which usually occur in the lung's alveoli.
Symptoms of popcorn lung can include shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing which can flare up with exercise or exertion.
The name 'popcorn lung' comes from the fact that the disease was first discovered in works at a microwave popcorn plant who'd been inhaling a chemical used in the production of the snack.
Are vaping and popcorn lung related?
It's important to note that vaping on it's own does not cause popcorn lung. Your risk of developing the disease is all down to the chemicals found in the particular vape you're inhaling.
Researchers have been able to link popcorn lung to a chemical known as diacetyl, which is often found in the production of certain foods and snack items, such as the previously mentioned microwaved popcorn.
However, diacetyl has also been found in the production of certain flavoured vapes as it can help create flavours such as cotton candy and blue raspberry.
Fortunately, diacetyl is banned in the production of vapes in the UK, due to concerns about popcorn lungs. Which means that you're unlikely to develop this specific disease by using vapes sold legally in UK stores.
However, diacetyl can still be found in vaping products in other countries and is a particular risk in the production of illegal and unregulated vapes.
This is particular concern for children under the age of 18 who are purchasing vapes illegally.
The American Lung Association has also labelled popcorn lung as 'a dangerous risk of flavoured e-cigarettes'.
Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, from the Tobacco Treatment Clinic at Johns Hopkins University, has also stressed the seriousness of the condition, telling the Daily Mail back in 2022: "It's as brutal as disease as it sounds... if you develop it you have a 95 percent of dying within five years."
Brenna Cooper