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Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung Or White Lung?

With the rise of lung diseases in people who vape, or use e-cigarettes, people are scrambling to find information regarding these diseases. Mueller Law Firm is here to help you find answers. We are working at the forefront of these issues to help clients identify possible injuries caused by these devices. If you or someone you love uses e-cigarettes and has developed lung damage, contact our office to see how we can help.

What Is Popcorn Lung?

Popcorn lung is a nickname for a condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans. This condition shrinks the smallest airways in your lungs. Those tiny airways end in little air sacs called alveoli, where your blood collects the oxygen. When those airways shrink, the alveoli don’t have enough oxygen for your blood, leaving you short of breath. You may also have a dry cough and wheezing.

The name “popcorn lung” comes from the first discovery of the problem among workers in a microwave popcorn plant. They figured out that exposure to a chemical added to the popcorn called diacetyl damaged lung airways when inhaled.

What Is White Lung?

White lung happens when a chemical irritant of some type scars the lung tissue, which eventually causes the lungs to become stiff, making breathing more difficult. The scarring happens because the chemical irritates the alveoli, which fill up with fluid, making oxygen transfer difficult.

The medical name for this condition is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Even once the lungs clear, the damage leaves scar tissue behind. It can eventually lead to a heart disease, as well. A well-known version of white lung is asbestosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

How Do They Relate To Vaping?

Doctors are still learning more about the lung illnesses caused by vaping, but they believe chemical irritation is the main cause. Vaping products use many chemicals that they do not disclose to the public, as well as some that we know about, like formaldehyde. The Mayo Clinic has stated that the types of injuries involved with vaping illnesses is consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals, just like white lung and popcorn lung.

At Mueller Law Firm, we continue to fight for those injured by defective products like vape pens. We are ready to fight for you if you or a loved one has developed a serious illness from vaping.

Contact Us Today

If you think your lung illness, or that of a loved one, could be caused by vaping, contact our office to discuss your case in a free initial consultation. Call our Novi office at 248-489-WOLF (9653) or send an email today.

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