A 30-year-old mum says she has been left with the lungs of an 80-year-old as a result of vaping.
Hannah Roth, from Newport, Tennessee, had never been a smoker.
When lockdown hit, she began to vape in an effort to relieve the stress of being 'stuck in the house'.
Advert
It escalated quickly and Hannah soon found she was addicted to vaping and would vape every hour of the day.
Four years after sparking the habit, Hannah began to notice she was experiencing cold chills and her lungs were making a 'popping sound' when she breathed.
Hannah recalled: "I thought I may have bronchitis because my chest hurt really bad.
"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.
Advert
"I was meant to get better but I got worse. I had a fever of 104°F (40°C) and my mom made me go to the hospital and she said 'there's something else wrong with you'."
Hannah went to see some more doctors who confirmed she had an obstruction in her right lung.
Hannah said that the doctors said it was "pneumonia".
She continued: "It looks like a tree with branches, it's called 'tree budding' and it's basically the deterioration of your lung.
Advert
"It's not supposed to happen unless you're a really heavy smoker."
The doctor then asked Hannah if she was a vaper. When she said yes, he informed her that's why this was happening.
Recalling her conversation with the doctor, Hannah said: "He told me that if I kept on [vaping] then I was going to die pretty much.
Advert
"He took my vape out of my purse and threw it in the trash can.
"He said: 'if you keep smoking these then you're not going to be able to breathe'."
The doctor added that every time she smoked a vape, the vapour was going directly into her lungs and it was like 'frying hot chicken'.
Hannah said: "That's why it was making a popping sound when I was breathing."
Advert
She was then informed her lungs were akin to that of a smoker of at least 10 years.
She said: "I looked like I had the lungs of someone in their 80s, someone much older, when he showed me that first scan.
"I was really mad at myself because I had no idea that vaping could do that."
Since being in the hospital last month (April), Hannah hasn't touched a vape.
And there is a silver lining.
Hannah said: "The doctor said if I stop vaping, my lungs will be able to heal as long as I don't vape anymore."
As for how she handles it, Hannah added: "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."
She concluded: "My advice would be just don't vape, don't pick it up and hit it. Even if you think you have control over it, sometimes you just don't."
Kya Buller