Health experts are sounding the alarm after a 17-year-old girl from Nevada developed “popcorn lung,” a serious and irreversible condition linked to vaping.

Brianne Cullen began vaping at 14 to ease her anxiety after returning to school post-lockdown. For three years, she secretly bought a disposable vape each month. Her mother, Christie Martin, only grew suspicious when Brianne became sick more often than usual.

The crisis came when Brianne called her mother, terrified and struggling to breathe. She was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed her with bronchiolitis obliterans—better known as popcorn lung. The disease damages the smallest airways in the lungs, causing ongoing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Doctors believe they caught the condition early, but the long-term effects remain unclear. Brianne now uses an inhaler to help her breathe, and she has since quit vaping.

Her mother is now speaking publicly to warn other parents. She says shaming families only stops people from sharing important information. “We once thought cigarettes were safe,” she explained. “We still don’t know the full truth about vaping. Parents need to work together.”

Experts have warned for years that inhaling diacetyl—once used in microwave popcorn factories and later found in many flavored vapes—can cause popcorn lung. Studies show the majority of tested e-cigarette brands contain diacetyl or similar harmful chemicals.

The American Lung Association says young people are inhaling these toxins directly into their lungs and urges stronger regulations to protect teens from long-term harm.