Health warnings about e-cigarettes continue to grow, despite a widespread belief that they are safer and less harmful than traditional tobacco smoking. However, medical experts confirm that e-cigarettes can cause serious and permanent health issues for users.
According to a report published by Science Alert and cited by Al Arabiya, a young American developed a rare and unusual condition known as “popcorn lung” after secretly vaping for three years.
“Popcorn lung,” medically referred to as bronchiolitis obliterans, is a rare but serious and incurable disease that damages the small airways in the lungs, leading to persistent coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.
The term “popcorn lung” originated in the early 2000s when workers at a microwave popcorn factory developed severe lung issues after inhaling a chemical called diacetyl, used to give popcorn its rich buttery flavor.
Diacetyl is a flavoring agent that becomes toxic when inhaled. It causes inflammation and scarring in the bronchioles—the smallest branches of the lungs—making airflow difficult and resulting in permanent lung damage.
While diacetyl is the most commonly linked cause, popcorn lung can also result from inhalation of other toxic chemicals found in the vapor of e-cigarettes.
The report confirms that there is no known cure for this condition. Once lung damage occurs, treatment is limited to managing the symptoms, and patients are left to cope with the illness for the rest of their lives.
Doctors emphasize that prevention is the best defense against such diseases, rather than seeking a cure after onset.
E-cigarette use is particularly popular among teenagers and young adults, partly due to the thousands of flavored vaping products available on the market. These e-liquids may contain nicotine, but they also include chemical compounds specifically designed to attract users.
Many of these flavorings are approved for food consumption, but that does not mean they are safe to inhale.
