‘Popcorn lung’: Doctor reveals shock truth about vaping

Vaping has shot up in popularity lately and while it’s less harmful than traditional cigarettes, Dr Zac explains that it’s not without risk.

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week, Dr Zac Turner explores the health impacts of vaping.

QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, my husband came home from a bachelor party with a vape, and now he’s hooked. He is addicted but won’t admit it. He says I should be happy he’s not smoking cigarettes. He even sucks on it in bed. My sheets are starting to smell like a banana milkshake. I don’t care what he says – I still believe vapes are bad for you. I’ve heard about popcorn lung and I’m worried he’s going to become a statistic. What can I tell him so that he will ditch vapes? – Elle, Marrickville NSW.

ANSWER: You have every right to be concerned for your husband’s health, Elle. Vaping has shot up in popularity over the past two years. Go to a smoking area of any pub in Sydney now and it will smell like a fruit basket, not like smoke.

While vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, it is not without risks. I would say the biggest risk is that vaping is very popular among teenagers and young adults, who may end up addicted to nicotine for the rest of their life. Young people who had ever used e-cigarettes had seven times higher odds of becoming smokers one year later compared with those who had never vaped.

As a country, we were seen as the gold standard in reducing smoking rates. Now, we will soon have another generation hooked on nicotine. No doubt the Government will have to now spend a fortune on anti-vaping advertisements, just like how we did with smoking for decades.

Vaping is very popular among teenagers and young adults. Picture: iStock

The only thing that should be in our lungs is air, nothing else. I like to compare vapes to a fast-food restaurant’s salad. It seems healthy compared to the other items on the menu but when you look closely, you realise it is just as bad as the other menu items.

Vaping involves inhaling aerosolised substances from e-cigarettes or other vaping devices. Unlike traditional smoking, vaping uses a liquid (often called e-liquid or vape juice) which is heated to create a vapour. This liquid typically contains nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Vaping exposes users to a range of chemicals, some of which are known to irritate the lungs or have harmful effects. These include nicotine, formaldehyde, and acrolein.

There is ongoing research into whether vaping causes irreversible damage to the lungs. Early studies suggest that while some damage might be reversible with cessation, prolonged exposure could lead to chronic respiratory conditions.

Prolonged exposure could lead to chronic respiratory condition. Picture: iStock

Evidence has shown vaping is linked with increased respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing. It suggests that even short-term use can negatively affect lung function. Ask your husband to run around the block, and see if he is complaining about being out of breath. I am positive he will.

The term “popcorn lung” refers to a condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans. It’s when your lung’s smallest airways are damaged, making you cough and feel short of breath. If you feel tired without an obvious reason or wheeze when you don’t have asthma or a cold, that also could be a symptom of bronchiolitis obliterans.

This serious lung disease was first linked to inhaling diacetyl, a chemical used in flavourings, notably in microwave popcorn production. That is why it is called popcorn lung. It’s now known that diacetyl is also present in some e-liquids used in vaping.

Popcorn lung is very real, and will affect your husband eventually if he does not stop. I highly recommend he speak to his doctor who can evaluate his health, and offer nicotine cessation tools. Awareness and early intervention are crucial to managing any potential damage to lung health.

Popcorn lung is also a possibility. Picture: iStock

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Dr Zac Turner is a medical practitioner specialising in preventative health and wellness. He has four health/medical degrees – Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, Bachelor of Nursing at Central Queensland University, and Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He is a registrar for the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and is completing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (UNSW). Dr Zac is the medical director for his own holistic wellness medical clinics throughout Australia, Concierge Doctors.

Originally published as ‘Popcorn lung’: Doctor reveals shock truth about vaping