Recent years have seen a rapid rise in kids vaping all over the world. A popular habit among young teens as well as young adults, vaping is the act of inhaling aerosol from electronic cigarettes or vape. But this popular habit has cost the health and well-being of this 24-year-old, who took to social media to warn people about this habit, as reported by the People. “I Have Been Vaping Since The Age Of 12” A young man is taking to social media with a serious warning for anyone who uses e-cigarettes. He claims that vaping caused him to suffer a heart attack at just 24 years old and has led to lasting lung damage. Through a series of TikTok videos, Jacob Temple from Kentucky is urging people to quit vaping right away. Temple, who started vaping at age 12, now says his lungs are like those of a 70-year-old man. He explained that he has permanent scarring on part of his lungs, meaning he can never fully inflate or deflate them again. "It feels like I’m breathing through a straw constantly, always, just never getting enough air and there’s nothing that can be done," he shared. This damage means he'll forever feel like he's not getting enough oxygen. Lung Damage As Well As Suffering Heart Health Temple also revealed that his vaping habit directly led to a "minor" heart attack, specifically an anterior myocardial infarction. He described the terrifying experience, saying, "My whole body was fighting to stay alive at a certain point." While the physical damage to his lungs can't be fixed, he hopes his story will motivate others to stop vaping before it's too late for them. Temple admits he still has "good days and bad days." On some days, he can be active with the help of his rescue inhaler. However, on other days, he can barely function and struggles to sleep. He reflected on his past habit, saying, "It was fun while it lasted, but now I am paying for it dearly." His struggle highlights the long-term, painful consequences of what might seem like a harmless habit. Research Warns Against Vaping In a 2021 BMJ Case Reports study, researchers explored the link between vaping spontaneous pneumothorax, which is when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. They also presented a case study of a A 34-year-old man, who was a healthy weight, came to the emergency room struggling to breathe and experiencing back pain for a full day. An X-ray of his chest showed a large collapsed lung on his right side. He had quit regular cigarettes three years prior and switched entirely to vaping. A more detailed CT scan revealed bullae (air-filled sacs) in his lungs, and he had to undergo surgery to remove part of his lung. Lab tests on the removed tissue showed mild inflammation. There are many other studies like the same, prompting researchers and healthcare professionals to issue warnings. Temple’s case is not an isolated incident; there are many who have suffered the same fate. How To Quit Vaping? According to Heart Organization, quitting smoking or vaping for good can seem tough, but it's totally possible. Just take it one step at a time. Here are five easy steps to help you on your journey to a healthier life. Pick Your "Quit Day" and Make a Promise Choose a day within the next week when you'll completely stop. This is your "Quit Day"! Promise yourself and tell supportive friends you're quitting. Slowly cut down before this day. Choose How You'll Quit You have options: go "cold turkey" and stop all at once, or cut down slowly each day. For example, reduce cigarettes from 20 to 10, then 5. Or take fewer puffs from each one. Talk to Your Doctor About Help Speak with your doctor. They can tell you if medicines or other support tools, like patches or gum, would make quitting easier for you. Get their personalized advice to help you succeed. Plan for Your Quit Day and Beyond Get ready for your Quit Day! Have healthy snacks ready, like fruits or gum. Plan fun activities to keep busy when you feel like smoking. Try a walk, movie, or new hobby to keep your hands busy.