Recently, a shared news report shook the vaping world, which alleged that a woman using an e-cigarette developed an auto-immune disease coined as 'wet lung.' The article further explains that the young woman had to have breathing treatments and tubes inserted into her lungs to treat the illness. Vapers took note of the article, and now many want to know whether or not this could happen to them.

What is Wet Lung?

Wet lung is another name for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Unlike other respiratory conditions, wet lung causes the patient to cough excessively, experience sharp pain, chest cramping, and have difficulty breathing. The condition starts off as a mild reaction but can worsen quickly, requiring emergency intervention.

Wet Lung From Vaping

Given the seriousness of the symptoms of wet lung, it's no surprise that many vapers are concerned that they could be at risk. However, the illness is more complicated than that. Wet lung can happen to anybody, and it isn't just caused by vaping. Other cases were found coinciding with excessive inhalation of hot tub vapors, animal fur, and even hay. It appears that those with asthma may be more prone to developing the illness, but there is little known about why its onset is so rapid in some cases. Researchers believe that certain allergens are responsible for causing the illness, but the specific allergen that triggers the condition depends on the individual.

Are You At Risk?

As with everything, there are some risks associated with vaping. However, this is the first recorded case of wet lung attributed to e-cigarettes. More specifically, the woman's doctors believe that the allergen responsible was found in the flavoring of the e-liquid, but wasn't necessarily related to the act of vaping itself. For users who have known allergies to certain flavors, there may be some increased risk, but most vapers have little to worry about in this regard.

To learn more about common myths and reactions to vaping, check out VaporFi's library of information on the subject. If you experience chronic coughing after vaping, you may want to read more here. The best practice is always to take vaping slowly at first while being conscientious of the flavors you choose to vape.