Health
Doctors Warn Of Rising Cases Of “Popcorn Lung” Among Young Adults — Here’s What You Need To Know
Young people have been warned about “popcorn lung,” a terrible and irreversible illness also known as bronchiolitis obliterans.
Due to compounds like diacetyl that are utilized in vaping and e-cigarettes, popcorn lung is frequently linked to these devices.
Donal O’Shea, a chemistry professor at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, explained in an article for The Conversation that the phrase “popcorn lung” originated in 2000 when a number of employees experienced lung issues as a result of working in a microwave popcorn factory that employed diacetyl.
Like the popcorn factory, flavoring vapes contain diacetyl, a substance that turns into a “toxic inhalant” when it is aerosolized.
“It causes inflammation and scarring in the bronchioles (the smallest branches of the lungs), making it increasingly difficult for air to move through,” O’Shea explained.
“There’s no cure for popcorn lung. Once the lungs are damaged, treatment is limited to managing symptoms.”
“This can include bronchodilators, steroids, and in extreme cases, lung transplantation. For this reason, prevention – not treatment – is the best and only defence.”
What causes popcorn lung?
As a result of breathing in diacetyl, the popcorn plant workers suffered irreversible and incapacitating lung damage.
Even though diacetyl is currently prohibited in e-cigarettes in the UK and the EU, it nevertheless finds its way into illicit goods.
Additionally, it is still present in US and other jurisdictions’ products.
According to Cancer Research UK, there are additional possible causes of popcorn lung. For instance, if an illness has harmed the lungs or if pollutants have caused discomfort and harm.
Is there a link between popcorn lung and vaping?
The fact that academics currently lack sufficient knowledge regarding vaping and its potential negative effects is one of the primary worries surrounding the practice.
We are aware, meanwhile, that vaping is becoming more popular among youth.
According to the Office for National Statistics, vapes and e-cigarettes are used by more adults over 16 in the UK than traditional cigarettes.
Meanwhile, people aged 25 to 49 are the most likely to use vapes on a daily basis.
According to a CDC data from the previous year, e-cigarettes were the most popular tobacco product among middle and high school adolescents in the United States. 43.6 percent of students who had ever used e-cigarettes said they currently do so.
The American Lung Association has referred to popcorn lung as “a dangerous risk of flavored e-cigarettes,” despite the fact that there is currently little evidence linking it to vaping.
What are the symptoms of popcorn lung?
Popcorn lung has two primary symptoms that usually start to appear two weeks to two months after being exposed to a poisonous gas or experiencing an infection.
According to WebMD, the primary symptoms are:
- A dry cough
- Shortness of breath
Exercise and strenuous work are more likely to cause these symptoms.
Additional signs of the illness include wheezing even when you don’t have a cold or asthma, or feeling exhausted for no apparent reason.
Fever, night sweats, or a skin rash are other signs, according to the Cleveland Clinic, however some people who get popcorn lung may not have any symptoms at first.
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