Vaping illness reveals popcorn lung in young mother

A Florida mom of five woke in the night with chest pain, later diagnosed with popcorn lung linked to vape use.

Vaping illness exposes popcorn lung in young mother

Cloey Eyes, 25, from Ocala, Florida, woke in the middle of the night with chest pain and shortness of breath. Emergency scans showed fluid and an oily substance in her lungs, not a heart attack. Doctors diagnosed bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare lung disease commonly called popcorn lung, and noted the oil around her lungs from vaping. There is no widely effective cure; treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and managing symptoms, with lung transplant possible in severe cases.

Eyes had vaped for about two years, using rechargeable disposable devices and consuming thousands of puffs every two weeks. She started vaping to quit smoking but says the habit became a daily routine. After hospitalization she quit vaping and reports better breathing, though doctors warned the lungs may take a year to heal. The case underscores public health concerns about vaping among young people, the possible role of flavor oils, and the limited evidence on safe use. While some cases are linked to lipoid pneumonia, nationwide data remain incomplete, and health professionals stress avoidance as the best protection.

The episode spotlights a gap between popular belief and medical risk. Vaping is often pitched as a safer alternative to smoking, but experts warn that flavored oils can trigger serious lung injury. Diacetyl and other additives in some vape liquids have been tied to inflammatory diseases, and treatment options are limited. This pushes the health system to emphasize prevention, better labeling, and restrictions that curb youth access. The story also raises questions about how doctors diagnose vape related injuries and how data on these cases is tracked and shared.

For families, the takeaway is caution. The case challenges the idea that vaping is harmless and highlights how addiction can blur good choices. Policy makers may face pressure to tighten rules around marketing, flavors, and accessibility to protect younger users while balancing adult smoking cessation options.

Highlights

Public health messaging must adapt to growing medical cases without fueling panic.