Hudson Williams began vaping in 2019 after deciding to give up cigarettes, believing e-cigarettes would be a healthier choice. For years, he saw it as a safer alternative, unaware of the damage it was doing to his lungs.
That changed in August when he suddenly experienced intense chest pain that he described as “feeling like being shot in the chest with a gun.” The pain was so sharp and unexpected that he had to be rushed to the hospital.
Medical staff warned him that even if he quit vaping completely, the same problem could happen again. It was a frightening possibility for someone who thought vaping was harmless.
Hudson said he had seen warnings online about the risks of vaping but never imagined it would happen to him. Like many others, he thought he was invincible — until his own experience proved otherwise.
He explained: “I was smoking cigarettes for a year prior to when I started vaping.”
“A lot of my friends had also started vaping and I made the switch because it tasted better. “ He went on to say that in the beginning, his vaping habit was occasional, but over time it took over his daily routine and became something he couldn’t go without.
Moments later, the pain intensified. “Within about 15 minutes it felt as if somebody had shot me in the chest with a shotgun.”
“I couldn’t breathe and the pain radiated around my rotator cuff, my collar bone, my heart, the middle of the chest, my neck, my earlobe, the bottom of my lung and my back.”
Fortunately, doctors determined that his lung had only collapsed by about 10 percent. Hudson was lucky — the situation could have been much worse. He’s now recovering but knows the risk of recurrence will always be there.
After the terrifying episode, he made the decision to stop vaping completely. Now, he’s determined to warn others before they go through something similar.
“I would say to anyone don’t vape, it’s not cool. It’s hard to quit and it’s a lot easier said than done. It’s a nasty habit and it’s hard to get out of, but it’s definitely possible.”
