A teenager who vaped for six years was hospitalized with chest tightness and breathing difficulties, describing the sensation as 'breathing through a straw.' Freddie Janman, 18, from Surrey, had a history of asthma and experienced repeated chest infections during his vaping habit, which began at age 12.
Janman's daily vape use involved around 1,200 puffs, equivalent to the nicotine content of two packs of cigarettes per day. He spent an estimated £4,000 on vapes and refills over the six years. Despite being hospitalized on March 30 with critically low oxygen levels, believed to be an asthma attack, Janman continued to vape secretly in his hospital bed.
He was admitted for four nights and received oxygen treatment. His condition prompted his girlfriend to drive him to the emergency room after his symptoms worsened.
Experts have raised concerns about the growing body of evidence linking vaping to respiratory problems in children and teenagers. A review by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health found that young people who vape are more likely to experience coughing, wheezing, bronchitis-like symptoms, and worsening asthma.
Following his hospitalization, Janman spoke with a Stop Smoking nurse on April 2, who provided him with nicotine gum and patches, and a doctor prescribed an inhaler to reduce airway inflammation. He has not vaped since and reports significant health improvements. Janman has since written a song about his experience.
While the NHS states that nicotine itself does not cause cancer, lung disease, heart disease, or stroke, research published in the European Heart Journal suggests nicotine use is a public health threat. Scientists have indicated that nicotine can increase blood pressure and heart rate, damage blood vessels, stiffen arteries, and promote the buildup of fatty deposits, potentially increasing the risk of heart attacks and abnormal heart rhythms.
Nazir Hussain, clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK, noted that vaping experiences like Janman's are common among young people and can exacerbate existing lung conditions such as asthma, potentially triggering attacks.