“Now I’m going to stop vaping”: Mason (19) vapes a hole in his lungs

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

Four capsules a week, one puff every few minutes: this is what Mason Middleton from Fort Myers, Florida, looked like at the height of his addiction. At the age of 15, he began regularly and illegally consuming disposable e-cigarettes.

“The stabbing pain came in waves. When I got home, I was in so much pain that I could barely walk, so I lay down,” the now 19-year-old told the Daily Mail. In early 2023, he suddenly started experiencing severe chest pain. Nevertheless, he went to work the next day work, but had to go to the hospital after a few hours.

Hole in the lungs

It immediately became clear: Middleton’s lung had collapsed. Air entered the space between the lung and the chest wall through a hole in the lung. This prevents the lungs from inflating and deflating properly, leading to shortness of breath, chest pain, and a rapid heart rate. The British newspaper reports this.

The disease is rarely fatal. However, it must be treated as soon as possible – otherwise damage to the lungs may increase or the oxygen level in the blood may decrease, which can damage internal organs. To prevent this, a tube is inserted into the chest. This sucks the air out of the vacuum and reintroduces it, allowing the lung to heal the hole and restore normal breathing without mechanical assistance.

Three days later the young American was able to leave the hospital. Because he has no previous illnesses, doctors say there is “no other reason” for his lung collapse than the use of e-cigarettes.

“I will stop vaping. I never listened to the people who said vaping would destroy you, but it’s true. “Don’t go through what I went through, it was extremely painful,” Middleton told the Daily Mail. He threw away all his devices and encouraged others to do the same via social media. (gs)

Source: Blick