If you have ever tried to quit smoking, then the chances are that you have considered vaping instead at least once. After all, it seems like a much safer option, considering that you are not inhaling smoke. However, there is a good chance that what you are inhaling is equally as bad for you. In fact, a doctor has recently shared an x-ray online of a person’s lungs who suffers from a condition known as popcorn lung.
The Hidden Dangers of Vaping
While vaping may seem like the safer option, we still don’t know the long-term effects. However, since flavored vapes have begun to be popular among younger people, health experts have begun to treat the matter with some urgency. In the meantime, measures have been taken to try to minimize the potential negative impact by adding warning labels, restricting sales to minors, and outright banning its sale in some cases. In the last few years, several side effects of vaping have been noted. The most concerning of these is known as popcorn lung.
The Doctor Reveals the X-Ray
In 2019, a doctor appeared on the CBS news network to share the story of one of her patients. Recently, the 17-year-old boy was admitted to a hospital in Ontario, Canada. At first, he just had a light cough, but over time it developed into this life-threatening condition. He was immediately put on life support, with the doctors unsure whether he would survive or not. The doctor who treated the boy, Dr. Karen Bosma, stated that the patient’s X-rays did not follow the usual vape-related lung injuries that they had observed in the past few months. She likened the imagery seen in the X-rays to how budding tree branches look in the springtime.
Defining Popcorn Lung
Bronchiolitis obliterans is the scientific name for the condition popularly known as popcorn lung. [1] This rare condition results in scarring and inflammation of the smallest airways in your lungs called the bronchioles. This airway inflammation inhibits the expulsion of carbon dioxide from the lungs. This is very dangerous, as the buildup can prove fatal. Popcorn lung differs from other smoking or vaping-related illnesses, as these typically occur in the alveoli. Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath have been noted among the condition’s symptoms.
How The Condition Got Its Name
Upon first hearing the name popcorn lung, you might think that the symptoms include lungs that look like popped corn. However, many believe that the name originated from the fact that the disease was first identified in a microwave popcorn factory. [2] The workers at the factory had inhaled large amounts of a flavoring chemical called diacetyl. This chemical was added to make the popcorn taste like butter. Cases of popcorn lung were also found in employees at a coffee roasting plant.
The Vaping and Popcorn Lung Connection
As you may have figured out by now, diacetyl is also used as a flavoring in vapes. However, this does not mean that all vaping can lead to popcorn lung. It all depends on what chemicals are used in the particular vape you purchased. Diacetyl is used by certain vape companies to produce flavors such as blue raspberry and cotton candy. While it is still used in many countries, it has been banned for vape production in the United Kingdom. This means that if you currently live in the UK, it is highly unlikely that legally store-bought vapes will contain diacetyl. However, there is still not much regulation outside of the UK, especially illegally produced vapes. The other concern is how easily vapes can be acquired by minors and the associated health risks.
Is Popcorn Lung Common?
Popcorn lung is not a very common illness, although it can affect anybody due to factors such as an infection or exposure to certain chemicals. Bronchiolitis obliterans can develop in individuals who have received a lung transplant. Within five years of receiving a lung transplant, around 50% of patients will be diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Within five years of receiving donor marrow, around 10% develop bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
The Progression of Popcorn Lung
Popcorn lung is not contagious, so cannot be passed from one person to another. Popcorn lung advances in phases, although not all patients experience these stages in the same way. One individual may remain in an early stage for quite a long time, whereas another may move rapidly from one level to a more advanced stage. A lung function test known as spirometry can help reveal the severity of the condition. The main symptoms of popcorn lung include coughing and shortness of breath, particularly during and after exercising. Other symptoms include tiredness, night sweats, fever, and a skin rash. [3]
How Popcorn Lung is Diagnosed
Your health provider will typically first ask you a series of questions regarding your medical history. Because the symptoms of popcorn lung, such as feeling tired and shortness of breath, are common in other illnesses, they could suggest that you undergo certain tests to help in their diagnosis. These tests may include CT scans and chest X-rays, bronchoscopy, lung biopsy, and lung function tests. Unfortunately, if diagnosed, the condition can often be very severe and beyond reversing. However, if caught early enough, you may still be able to manage the condition considerably. The best choice, of course, is avoiding these chemicals as much as possible. If you are forced to work with these chemicals in your working environment, then insist that you be provided with adequate protective gear.