A Tennessee woman who enjoyed vaping for years says it nearly did her in, with a doctor saying it was “frying [her] lungs like hot chicken.”
Last month, 30-year-old Hannah Roth began hearing a “popping” sound in her lungs and developed a fever of 104 degrees. Emergency room scans revealed that her lungs resembled those of an 80-year-old or a long-term smoker.
“The doctor came in and showed me my X-ray and said, ‘Do you vape?’ And he said, ‘That’s why you have pneumonia,’” Roth recalled to Kennedy News, per New York Post. “He told me that if I kept on [vaping] then I was going to die pretty much,” she continued.
The well-meaning doctor showed his flair for the dramatic with his next move.
“He took my vape out of my purse and threw it in the trash can,” Roth said.
The Tennessee Woman Recalls How Hourly Vaping Mysteriously Transformed Her Lungs into Hot Chicken
The mother of two revealed that she had never smoked before but began vaping four years ago during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Before long, her addiction intensified, and she found herself vaping “every hour of the day.”
Last month, while at her receptionist job, Roth began experiencing chills. The Tennessee woman developed a fever and heard a popping sound, akin to frying hot chicken, every time she took a breath, like when she was enjoying a nice vaping break.
“I thought I may have bronchitis because my chest hurt really bad,” she explained. “That went on for a few days, and then I went to the doctors, and they said I had the flu and gave me medicine.”
She mentioned that her mother urged her to visit the hospital, where an X-ray revealed an obstruction in her right lung.
“It looks like a tree with branches. It’s called ‘tree budding,’ and it’s basically the deterioration of your lung,” Roth admitted.
The Tennessee Woman Was Somehow Surprised That Daily, Hourly Vaping Damaged Her Lungs
A baffled Roth didn’t understand how the daily, hourly habit of inhaling superheated vapors from a plastic device could do such a thing to her lungs. “It’s not supposed to happen unless you’re a really heavy smoker,” she marveled.
Roth admitted she was unaware that vaping—a practice involving the use of a handheld device to inhale flavored vapor—could cause such a side effect. Other established potential side effects include dry mouth and throat, shortness of breath, headaches, and nausea.
However, it seems the Tennessee woman’s dixie fried lungs are on the road to recovery.
“The doctor said if I stop vaping, my lungs will be able to heal as long as I don’t vape anymore,” Roth explained.
Roth admits it’s a daily struggle to kick her habit. Still, there’s been a silver lining to her ordeal.
“I still get cravings for the vape, but I chew a lot of gum and that helps. Overall, I feel a lot healthier, and I’m saving money now too because I’m not buying a vape every week.”