Kentucky native Jacob Temple is saving lives by sharing his story on TikTok, as Tyla.com reports. He was clueless that it would quickly become viral and would warn several vapers who are struggling to make the right choice. The 24-year-old began vaping at the age of 12 because he thought it to be “safer” than cigarette smoking, but earlier this year, he suffered a mild heart attack.
Yet, the long-term, permanent harm to his lungs might be worse still. He mentioned, “It feels like I’m breathing through a straw constantly, always, just never getting enough air.” He added: “I now have the lungs of a 70-year-old man.”
With nearly 4 million views, Temple’s TikTok PSA hit home with the vaping community, especially Gen Z, many of whom began vaping flavored e-cigarettes in their early teens.
@jay1are2us
RELATED: Gen Z Can’t Get Enough of High-Strength Nicotine—But What’s Really Driving This Obsession?
His candid yet graphic warning acts as a reminder that vaping isn’t the harmless habit it appears to be.”Stop before you regret it (…) all of the small airway tubes at the bottom of your lungs, those are scarred up permanently,” Temple explained.
In his sleep, he said to be coughing with such force that he almost choked. After his oxygen level in his blood fell to 80%, he started to have night sweats, kidney and liver pain, and finally a dire medical emergency: an anterior myocardial infarction, a sort of heart attack that typically happens in more senior people.
Vaping Is A Growing Public Health Concern
Despite being severe, Jacob’s condition is not unusual.
No tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, is safe, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), especially for kids and teens. Nicotine, which can often be found in vapes, may alter how the brain develops for people under the age of 25, increasing their likelihood of addiction and issues with managing their emotions.
Also, the aerosol from vapes may contain volatile organic compounds, substances that cause cancer, and harmful metals like nickel and lead. Diacetyl is one flavoring that was previously tied to severe lung disorders like “popcorn lung.”
Black Lung, or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, is caused by inhaling coal dust.
Popcorn Lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans, is caused by inhaling diacetyl in microwave popcorn.
Vape Lung, likely caused by inhaling oil or metal nanoparticles, is the newest way to hurt ourselves. pic.twitter.com/W3QyY2V9LC
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) September 8, 2019
Pointing to growing health risks to kids and teenagers, the UK government officially declared disposable vapes illegal in 2024. The US government has yet to enact local bans or flavor limits, despite the fact that many cities have done so.
Also, evidence shows that kids who vape are far more likely to switch to cigarette smoking. Studies on the long-term effects of vaping are ongoing. Initial signs, like seizures and lung scarring, show that there’s a real risk, especially among regular users.
Jacob Temple’s Message: “It’s Permanent, There’s No Fixing It”
Jacob’s vulnerability is what gives his message such resonance. “[I was] sweating bullets and shivering and the whole side of my bed would be soaked,” he recounts. His story proves what healthcare professionals have been saying for years: vaping is not without significant, possibly fatal consequences, despite being touted as a less dangerous choice.
Along with having permanent lung damage, Jacob’s quality of life has been reduced. “[My] whole body was fighting to stay alive,” he remembers when he was taken to the hospital. His story has grown into a call for action for those who are reconsidering their vaping practices or intend to give up before it’s too late.
It’s better than cigarettes, right? That’s what I kept telling myself…
You think you’re invincible until your lung collapses.
Vaping gave me nothing but a chest tube and a second chance.
Do you, but I highly suggest quitting now before it’s too late.🚭 pic.twitter.com/b4neXfoQKY
— Aj (@Ajwritescrypto) December 27, 2024
As scientists continue looking into the long-term consequences of vaping, Jacob Temple’s voice gives a national dialogue that has only recently begun to get an extra push.
NEXT: Michelle Obama Confesses Daughters’ Smoking Habits Sparked a ‘Nightmare’ at Home
