When 17-year-old Brianna Martin, a high school cheerleader, began having sudden breathing difficulties, her mother, Christie, had no idea the cause would be something so alarming — or permanent. What seemed like a panic attack turned out to be a severe lung condition triggered by years of secretly vaping. The diagnosis was bronchiolitis obliterans, more commonly known as ‘popcorn lung’ — a rare but devastating disease that can leave lasting damage to the lungs.
Nevada-based estate agent Christie recalled, “She called me all of a sudden and said she couldn’t catch her breath. She kept saying, ‘I can’t breathe; it was the scariest thing. I didn’t expect the news she gave me, that it was popcorn lungs that’s permanent and children are dying from it. They told me she should be able to make a full recovery because we caught it so early, but it can also cause problems like cancer in the future.”
She added, “Smoking takes years to show its effect and your lungs can heal from it, but popcorn lung is irreversible.” According to reports, Brianne used a disposable vape every day for nearly three years. Although she has since quit and now relies on an inhaler, doctors say there’s little they can do to reverse the damage.
Popcorn lung gets its nickname from a chemical called diacetyl, once used to flavour microwave popcorn and now commonly found in some vaping products. Inhaling it over time can scar the smallest airways in the lungs, making it hard to breathe and causing symptoms that mimic chronic respiratory illness. Brianna had started vaping at just 14 to cope with anxiety during the COVID-19 lockdown, a decision that now has lifelong consequences.
Why is bronchiolitis obliterans called popcorn lung? What is it exactly?
Dr Shivakumar K, chief consultant pulmonologist at Kauvery Hospitals Marathahalli, tells indianexpress.com, “Bronchiolitis obliterans, often referred to as ‘popcorn lung,’ is a rare and serious condition that damages the smallest airways of the lungs, called bronchioles. It causes inflammation and scarring that narrows and blocks the airways, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.”
Dr Vikas Mittal, pulmonolgist, director, Department of Respiratory Medicine, C K Birla Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, says, “This leads to formation of airspace white opacities on chest X Ray and CT of chest which resembles popcorn and hence the name popcorn Lungs. It leads to difficulty in oxygen exchange in lungs leading to respiratory failure. This condition can be acute and patients with this problem develop severe breathlessness with need of oxygen due to respiratory failure. It can turn severe suddenly and the patient may need non-invasive ventilation like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or invasive mechanical ventilation.”
How exactly does vaping lead to popcorn lung?
Vaping aerosols, especially those containing flavouring agents like diacetyl, can irritate and inflame the delicate lung tissues over time, notes Dr Shivakumar. In some individuals, particularly adolescents whose lungs are still developing, this can trigger a long-term inflammatory response that leads to scarring of the small airways — a key feature of bronchiolitis obliterans.
“It’s not difficult to detect or diagnose if proper history of vaping is illicited but may become difficult to diagnose and may need lung biopsy if there is no predisposing injury to lung,” explains Dr Mittal.
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Is recovery from popcorn lung truly possible, or does it leave irreversible damage?
The optimal treatment for bronchiolitis obliterans is not known, and data supporting the various options are limited. Dr Mittal explains, “In a portion of patients, the disease is progressive despite all therapies and eventuates in respiratory failure and sometimes needing lung transplant due to permanent lung damage. Other patients may not improve with treatment, but may have stable lung function over several years.”
Popcorn lung unfortunately causes permanent damage to the lung tissue, Dr Shivakumar states, and while treatment can help manage symptoms and slow progression, full recovery is rare. Therapies may include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, or even supplemental oxygen in more severe cases.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
