Teenager Who Vaped Equivalent Of 50 Cigarettes A Day Given ‘Shock’ Diagnosis After Coughing Up ‘Pints’ Of Blood

Imagine filling your lungs with the equivalent of 50 cigarettes a day—not over years, but in just 24 hours. Now, imagine doing that at 16, thinking it was harmless. For one teenager, that illusion shattered the moment he started coughing up pints of blood.

Vaping was marketed as the safer alternative, the sleek, modern replacement for smoking. No tar, no lingering smell—just fruity flavors and cool vapor clouds. But beneath the glossy packaging and the buzzwords like “nicotine-free” or “water vapor,” a hidden truth is emerging—one that medical professionals have been warning about for years.

“Teenager who vaped equivalent of 50 cigarettes a day given ‘shock’ diagnosis after coughing ‘pints’ of blood” – LADbible #SmartNews https://t.co/CiXIaiUb1u

— Sylvia Muhammad (@sweet_ie) February 5, 2025

A Teen’s Harrowing Experience: When Vaping Turns Deadly

Jayden thought he was just like any other teenager. A few drinks, a fun night, a quick dip in the pool. But what happened next turned his life upside down. “But a couple hours later I had a few drinks and stuff and I got into the swimming pool,” he recalled. “Gone straight to the toilet and I’m coughing up pint-loads of blood. It scared me to see, especially at a young age.” For ten agonizing minutes, he kept coughing—thick, heavy blood filling the sink. It was a terrifying sight, one he’d never forget. At first, doctors assumed it was a stomach ulcer. His mom, Elita, wondered if it was the drinks, the greasy food, or the late-night kebabs he’d been eating while on vacation in Turkey. But when he kept coughing up blood even after returning to Birmingham, doctors knew something was seriously wrong. Jayden underwent multiple tests, but his lung X-rays came back clear. It wasn’t until an endoscopy—a procedure where a tiny camera is sent down the throat—that the truth was revealed.

His lungs were in far worse shape than anyone had expected. “I think they were going through the options of everything, not thinking that a kid of his age would have severe lung damage,” Elita said. “A week later that’s when he had the camera down. The consultant said he’s never seen so much lung damage on a kid. It’s awful.” The cause? Excessive vaping. The words hit like a brick. “‘Excessive vaping,’ that’s what they said. It was a shock,” Elita admitted. Jayden was put on medication, and miraculously, the bleeding stopped within days. Determined to recover, he quit vaping. But months later, on his birthday, he made what he calls a “stupid” decision—one that would remind him just how fragile his lungs had become. “However, he ‘stupidly’ used a vape months later, on 10 January when celebrating his birthday. And when he started coughing afterwards, he could tell ‘straight away’ there was going to be blood.” He thought a few puffs wouldn’t hurt, that his body would just heal over time. “I thought the damage was done and it would just heal itself and I thought that a few tokes on a vape wouldn’t affect me.

But I was totally wrong and I can’t believe how easily it was to get the damage done again,” he admitted. Now, he’s in constant pain, awaiting a CT scan, and carrying a lesson he hopes no other teenager will have to learn the hard way. “If I could go back to that moment when I first started [vaping] I’d tell myself ‘never to touch one of them,’” he said. “It’s crazy how dangerous they are and what they can actually do to the human body. You don’t realize it when you do it. It just affects you in the long run. I would never touch one.”

Jayden’s story is not an isolated case. While vaping has long been marketed as a “safer” alternative to smoking, mounting evidence suggests otherwise. E-cigarettes contain a cocktail of chemicals, including nicotine, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds that can wreak havoc on the respiratory system. Contrary to popular belief, vaping is not just harmless water vapor—research has shown that the aerosols inhaled can lead to lung inflammation, scarring, and in extreme cases, irreversible damage. The condition known as EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury), first identified in 2019, has been linked to hundreds of hospitalizations and even deaths, particularly among young users. While tobacco smoke contains tar, e-cigarettes expose users to harmful substances like diacetyl, a chemical known to cause “popcorn lung”, a severe and incurable lung disease.

Doctors are now seeing an alarming increase in vaping-related lung issues, especially in teenagers, whose lungs are still developing. A 2023 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that adolescent vapers had significantly reduced lung function compared to their non-vaping peers. The ultrafine particles in e-cigarette vapor penetrate deep into the lungs, triggering inflammation that can lead to long-term respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. Worse, because vaping products often contain high concentrations of nicotine, young users become addicted much faster, leading them to inhale more frequently and at higher doses. This addiction reinforces a vicious cycle of lung exposure and damage, often before symptoms like chronic cough, chest pain, and breathlessness become evident.

For doctors treating severe cases like Jayden’s, the challenge is that vaping-related lung damage does not always show up on standard X-rays, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopies and CT scans often reveal the full extent of the harm, as was the case with Jayden. “The consultant said he’s never seen so much lung damage on a kid,” his mother recalled—a sobering reminder that the damage from vaping is both real and, in many cases, permanent. While some effects can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes, severely damaged lung tissue does not regenerate. The best protection, experts warn, is prevention—because once the lungs are compromised, there is no easy way to undo the damage.

The Wake-Up Call: His Message to Other Teens

For Jayden, the reality of vaping’s dangers didn’t hit until it was too late. He had convinced himself, like so many others, that vaping was just a habit—something harmless, something easy to quit. But after watching his own body betray him, he now sees things differently. “If I could go back to that moment when I first started [vaping], I’d tell myself ‘never to touch one of them,’” he said. “It’s crazy how dangerous they are and what they can actually do to the human body. You don’t realize it when you do it. It just affects you in the long run. I would never touch one.”

Jayden’s experience serves as a chilling warning to teens who think they’re just indulging in a trend, unaware of the irreversible damage they may be causing to their lungs. The accessibility of vapes, often disguised in colorful packaging and fruity flavors, has made it easier than ever for young people to fall into addiction without realizing the consequences. Like Jayden, many assume they can quit anytime, believing their bodies will heal on their own. But his relapse in January—just a few puffs that instantly triggered another episode of bloody coughing—shattered that illusion. “I thought the damage was done and it would just heal itself and I thought that a few tokes on a vape wouldn’t affect me. But I was totally wrong and I can’t believe how easily it was to get the damage done again.”

Now living with chronic lung pain and awaiting a CT scan to assess the full extent of the damage, Jayden hopes his story will make other teens think twice before picking up a vape. He knows firsthand how easy it is to get hooked and how hard it is to undo the damage once it’s done. His message is simple: it’s not worth it. What starts as a harmless habit can turn into a lifetime of health struggles—something no teenager expects, but many may face if the risks of vaping continue to be ignored.

How Society and Parents Can Respond

Jayden’s story is just one of many, yet it highlights a growing public health crisis that parents, educators, and society at large cannot afford to ignore. While traditional cigarette use among teens has declined, vaping has skyrocketed, fueled by sleek marketing, enticing flavors, and the false perception that it’s a harmless alternative. Studies show that more than 2.5 million middle and high school students in the U.S. alone now use e-cigarettes, with many starting as young as 12—just like Jayden. The issue isn’t just addiction; it’s the long-term damage being done to developing lungs before the consequences become visible.

For parents, the challenge lies in opening up honest conversations without resorting to scare tactics that may push teens further into rebellion. Experts recommend approaching the topic with curiosity rather than condemnation, asking open-ended questions like, “What do you think about vaping?” instead of outright forbidding it. Providing real-life examples—like Jayden’s—can be more impactful than vague warnings about health risks. Schools and communities also play a crucial role in this fight, advocating for stricter regulations on flavored vapes, which are often the gateway for young users. Several countries, including the UK and Australia, have already moved to ban disposable vapes due to their alarming rise in teenage consumption, signaling a shift toward stronger preventative measures.

But at the heart of this issue lies a deeper question: why are so many young people turning to vaping in the first place? Whether it’s stress, peer pressure, or the allure of fitting in, addressing the root cause is just as important as tackling the physical health risks. Education, awareness, and open dialogue—not just punishment—are key to changing the narrative. Jayden’s story should not just serve as a cautionary tale, but as a wake-up call for parents, teachers, and lawmakers to step in before more teenagers find themselves gasping for air, realizing too late the damage that’s already been done.

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