Super-fit gym fanatic dismissed chest pain as 'trapped wind' - in fact vaping had caused his lung to collapse

Super-fit gym fanatic dismissed chest pain as 'trapped wind' - in fact vaping had caused his lung to collapse READ MORE: 1 in 6 vapes confiscated from kids contains illegal 'zombie drug' By John Ely Deputy Health Editor For Mailonline Published: 11:08 BST, 13 August 2024 | Updated: 11:10 BST, 13 August 2024 e-mail View comments Gym fanatic Paul Cowling initially dismissed a sudden pain in his chest while 'chain vaping' at his desk as a simple case of 'trapped wind'. However, the 32-year-old was later forced to crawl in A&E in agony as the real culprit was a collapsed lung trigged by his frequent use of the devices. The IT consultant later learned his vaping habit had worn the outer layer of his lung thin, causing a bubble to form on the outside which then popped and caused the organ to deflate like a balloon.

The previously fit and active Mr Cowling, who went to gym two to three times a week, said he became a social smoker in 2015 but took up vaping in 2019. Being able to work from home made it easy for the avid hiker to burn his way four or five disposable vapes a week as he could simply vape at his desk through the working day. Gym fanatic Paul Cowling initially dismissed a sudden pain in his chest while 'chain vaping' at his desk as a simple case of 'trapped wind' However, the 32-year-old was later forced to crawl in A&E agony as the real culprit was a collapsed lung trigged by his frequent use of the devices 'I found through time that vaping is a lot easier to do, especia.