While the name "popcorn lung" may not sound like a threat, it's a serious lung disease that causes coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, similar to the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Because symptoms like difficulty breathing or being fatigued are common in other conditions, your doctor may recommend certain tests to clarify the diagnosis. These include: Imaging tests like a chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan. Lung function tests.
The main symptoms of popcorn lung are a dry cough and shortness of breath. These show up between 2 weeks and 2 months after you've been around a toxic gas or had an illness. You're especially likely to have them when you're exercising or doing heavy labor.
The Symptoms of Popcorn Lung
Short of breath. Crackles (“sounds like Velcro or Rice Crispies”) detected with a stethoscope. Cough that doesn't go away. Oxygen levels that nosedive when walking.
Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is an uncommon type of lung disease, but it is not cancer. It's caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air. A possible link has been suggested between the disease and a chemical called diacetyl.
Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death. Some chemicals in vaping products can also cause cardiovascular disease and biological changes that are associated with cancer development.
Vaping and Popcorn Lung
Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment.
Popcorn lung is a rare condition that causes airway scarring due to inflammation and eventually lung damage. Although there is no cure for popcorn lung, treatments can help with managing symptoms.
Popcorn lung usually needs to be diagnosed using an X-ray, CT scan, or surgical lung biopsy, as the condition is often misdiagnosed as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis. Your doctor may also want to conduct a pulmonary function test.
“We also observed that when patients ceased vaping, they had a partial reversal of the condition over one to four years, though not complete due to residual scarring in the lung tissue.”
Bronchiolitis obliterans is a rare chronic disease that worsens over time. This disease was first discovered in workers at a microwave popcorn plant who had inhaled the flavoring chemical diacetyl. Thus, the bronchiolitis obliterans became known as 'popcorn lung'.
Change VG:PG Ratio
If you continue to suffer a vaping cough, try a E-liquid with different the VG:PG ratio. A lower PG and higher VG ratio may be smoother, and somehow can reduce coughing. However, E-juice with higher VG tends to contain less nicotine, which might leave you an unsatisfied experience.
The source of diacetyl and AP in e-liquids is the flavorings used to make them. The most obvious ones are e-juices with buttery flavors, like custards and other sweet desserts. But some candy- and fruit-flavored e-liquids and even tobacco flavors can also contain diketones like diacetyl.
WHY DO YOU COUGH WHEN YOU VAPE? There are a few reasons why you might cough when you vape that include a damaged or faulty vape atomizer, incorrect set up of your vape device, poor quality e-liquid, high levels of nicotine or propylene glycol (PG) and using the incorrect inhale technique on your device.
Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways which makes breathing difficult. Sufferers often complain of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain.
While the name "popcorn lung" may not sound like a threat, it's a serious lung disease that causes coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, similar to the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Popcorn lung and vaping.
Over time, it can lead to scarring of the lungs' tiny air sacs, along with thickening and narrowing of the airways. A chemical called diacetyl, found in many e-cigarette flavors, is one cause of this condition.
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
Generally, people with popcorn lung have a lower life expectancy than the rest of the population. Life expectancy for bronchiolitis obliterans varies widely and depends on the severity and cause of the condition.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Shortness of breath and a dry cough are the most common signs of bronchiolitis and usually get worse over time. Several tests can help your doctor rule out other common lung infections.
The lung damage he has seen in patients is the equivalent to someone smoking cigarettes for decades. "It literally can kill you the first time you try it," he says.