A 17-year-old girl from Nevada has been diagnosed with a lifelong lung condition known as "popcorn lung" after vaping for three years.
Brianne Cullen secretly began using e-cigarettes at just 14 years old, turning to them as a way to manage anxiety when returning to school after the COVID-19 lockdown.
The teenager kept her vaping habit hidden from her mother, using the $25 disposable devices daily without her knowledge.
But in January, things took a frightening turn at a cheerleading practice, when Cullen suddenly called her mother, gasping: "I can't breathe."
Martin rushed her daughter to the hospital, where tests revealed the shocking diagnosis: bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as "popcorn lung".
The rare condition, which causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs' smallest airways, is often linked to inhaling harmful chemicals, including diacetyl, a substance found in some e-cigarette liquids, per the American Lung Association.
Popcorn lung is irreversible, and while there is no cure, treatment can help manage the symptoms.
"I didn’t expect the news she gave me, that it was popcorn lungs that’s permanent and children are dying from it," Martin said, per Daily Mail. "They told me she should be able to make a full recovery because we caught it so early, but it can also cause problems like cancer in the future."
Popcorn Lung Symptoms
The rare condition causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and fatigue. In severe cases, a lung transplant may be necessary.
While Cullen's prognosis is better because the condition was caught early, the long-term effects remain uncertain.
As part of her treatment, she now relies on an inhaler to help with her breathing. "We don’t know the status of her lungs now," her mother explained. "We still don’t know if there will be long-term effects."
Despite stopping vaping, the damage is done, as the condition’s impact on her health could last a lifetime.
A Warning for Parents
The now-17-year-old's case highlights a troubling trend: many young people are unaware of the potential long-term consequences of vaping.
Martin is now on a mission to raise awareness. “I would urge parents to spread awareness. This is meant to be a cautionary tale to not let your kids vape, no matter what,” she said.
The mom is alarmed by how easily teenagers can access these products, saying, “Kids can walk straight into these smoking shops and buy them. It's a money grab...yet, I would walk into her room all the time, and I never saw her vaping. 'It took a deadly diagnosis for her to stop.'"