Can Vaping Collapse Your Lungs?

• Vaping has been linked to spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung) in young adults, even non-smokers.
• A Pennsylvania woman nearly died from vaping-related lung collapse within just a year of using e-cigarettes.
• Experts warn that vaping chemicals can weaken lung tissue, increasing the risk of severe respiratory conditions.
• The CDC reports thousands of hospitalizations due to vaping-related lung injuries, highlighting significant public health concerns.
• Quitting vaping and seeking medical advice early can prevent long-term damage and respiratory complications.

Can Vaping Collapse Your Lungs? A Real-Life Warning

Vaping is often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but emerging evidence suggests otherwise. A growing number of young adults are experiencing severe lung damage, including pneumothorax—a condition where air leaks into the chest cavity, causing the lung to collapse. One terrifying case is that of Petrea Mckeithen, a Pennsylvania woman, whose near-death experience serves as a cautionary tale about the hidden dangers of e-cigarettes.

The Alarming Case: A Collapsed Lung from Vaping

Petrea Mckeithen started vaping at 21, initially believing it was a harmless habit. Like many users, she was drawn in by the variety of flavors and the perception that vaping was a “cool” alternative to smoking. However, within a year, she began experiencing breathing difficulties—symptoms she initially brushed off as asthma.

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In September 2022, her condition suddenly worsened. She was gasping for air and could barely breathe. Rushed to the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with pneumothorax, a condition where air escapes from the lungs and gets trapped in the chest cavity. The pressure built up to the point where her lung collapsed entirely.

Mckeithen was placed in a medically induced coma and given only a 3% chance of survival. Against the odds, she recovered, but her lungs were permanently damaged. Today, she lives with chronic respiratory illnesses, including “vaper’s lung” (EVALI) and asthma, forcing her to take daily precautions to manage her health.

Her story is not unique. Across the U.S., more young adults are experiencing spontaneous lung collapse after vaping, raising concerns about the long-term safety of e-cigarettes.

Understanding Pneumothorax: How Vaping Weakens Lungs

Pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, occurs when air builds up in the space between the lungs and chest wall, making it difficult for the lungs to expand normally (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). The condition can be spontaneous (occurring without injury) or traumatic (due to physical trauma or chronic illness).

How Vaping Contributes to Lung Collapse

Medical experts link vaping to pneumothorax for several reasons:

• Inhaling vapor deeply and forcefully stresses lung tissue.
• Chemicals in vape aerosol, including formaldehyde and acrolein, weaken lung walls and alveoli over time.
• Lung inflammation from prolonged vaping may lead to the formation of air pockets, increasing collapse risk.
• Nicotine constricts blood vessels, reducing lung tissue repair and worsening damage.

Many doctors report an increase in spontaneous pneumothorax cases among young vapers with no prior lung disease, suggesting that vaping itself is a dangerous trigger.

The Broader Health Risks of Vaping

While lung collapse is one of the most severe complications, vaping has been linked to other serious health risks, including:

Lung Disease and Chronic Respiratory Illness

• **EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury)**—a life-threatening vape-related condition causing lung inflammation and scarring.
• Chronic bronchitis from exposure to harmful chemicals over time, resulting in persistent cough and shortness of breath.
• Reduced lung function, making vapers more vulnerable to infections like pneumonia and COVID-19.

Cardiovascular Damage

Nicotine and toxic vape ingredients increase the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure by:

• Elevating heart rate and blood pressure.
• Contributing to arterial stiffness and blood vessel damage.
• Increasing stroke risk due to long-term nicotine exposure.

Toxic Exposure from E-Cigarette Aerosols

Vape liquids contain toxic compounds such as:

• Heavy metals (e.g., nickel, lead) inhaled as microscopic particles.
• Cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde.
• Diacetyl, linked to popcorn lung, a serious lung disease that scars airways.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), thousands of vaping-related lung injuries have led to hospitalizations and even fatalities.

Expert Insights: What Healthcare Professionals Say

Doctors and researchers are sounding the alarm about vaping health risks.

• The Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.) reports a rise in spontaneous pneumothorax among young people who vape, even those who have never smoked.
• Pulmonologists have noted increased cases of vape-related lung injuries mimicking symptoms of pneumonia or COPD.
• Many severe vaping complications require hospitalization, oxygen therapy, or even lung surgery to prevent permanent damage.

Physicians strongly advise young vapers to quit before experiencing irreversible lung damage. The longer one vapes, the higher the risk of serious respiratory issues.

Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Lung Damage

If you or someone you know vapes, it’s crucial to recognize early signs of lung deterioration to prevent life-threatening complications.

Symptoms of Lung Collapse

• Sudden sharp chest or shoulder pain
• Shortness of breath or struggling to take deep breaths
• Dizziness, fatigue, or fainting
• A feeling of tightness in the chest

Other Vaping-Related Lung Symptoms

• Persistent coughing
• Wheezing or difficulty breathing
• Increased mucus production
• Frequent respiratory infections

If these symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately before the condition worsens.

Long-Term Health Consequences of Vaping

For Mckeithen, surviving was only the beginning of a lifelong battle. She now:

• Requires daily asthma medications and lung monitoring.
• Must avoid air pollution and environmental triggers to prevent flare-ups.
• Is at higher risk of pneumonia and respiratory infections, which could lead to hospitalization.
• Suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD from her traumatic near-death experience.

The mental and emotional toll of vaping-related illness often goes unrecognized, affecting users long after they’ve quit.

How to Quit Vaping and Protect Your Health

Deciding to quit vaping can be challenging but life-saving. Here are evidence-based strategies:

• Consult a doctor for guidance on quitting safely.
• Use nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges) to manage withdrawal symptoms.
• Join a support group or online community for accountability.
• Find alternative stress-relief methods, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies.
• Educate yourself on long-term vaping risks to strengthen your motivation to quit.

The earlier you quit, the better your chance of avoiding severe health complications.

Raising Awareness: The Importance of Prevention

Public education and policy changes are necessary to curb the vaping epidemic among teenagers and young adults. Steps toward prevention include:

• Stronger regulations on vaping product sales, especially to minors.
• School programs and national campaigns that highlight real-life dangers like lung collapse.
• Increased medical screenings for vapers to detect early lung damage before it becomes life-threatening.
• Personal advocacy, sharing survivor stories like Mckeithen’s to deter potential users.

Mckeithen now dedicates her efforts to warning young people about the reality of vaping dangers, hoping her near-death experience can prevent others from going through the same horror.

Final Thoughts

Vaping may seem trendy or harmless, but its risks extend far beyond what manufacturers claim. Cases of collapsed lungs, chronic illness, and even death continue to rise, proving that these devices are far from safe.

Mckeithen’s near-fatal experience stands as a stark warning—anyone who vapes is gambling with their lung health, future well-being, and even their life. If you vape, the best decision you can make is to stop before it’s too late.

Citations

• Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/
• Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Vaping and lung health: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/