Vaping has often been promoted as a safer alternative to smoking. However, the experience of Loyda Cordero Faliero, a 39-year-old mother from Franklinville, New York, refutes this assumption. After quitting cigarettes and switching to vaping, Faliero developed severe lung complications. She developed air pockets in the walls of her lungs, which completely shifted her way of living. She currently has to sleep in an upright position or possibly face choking or suffocating.

A Healthier Choice Gone Wrong

Faliero, who smoked cigarettes for over 20 years, embraced vaping as a “healthier” alternative. “I was proud of myself for quitting cigarettes,” she said. “I thought vaping would be the healthier option.” However, she began vaping almost constantly, sometimes 24/7. She later recognised that this was a problematic habit.

Within roughly 18 months of switching, Faliero began experiencing troubling symptoms that she initially dismissed as symptoms of poor health. Breathlessness, dizziness, nausea, and chest pain increasingly worsened. Then, in March 2025, she was rushed to the emergency room after choking on a sip of water. This is where a visit to the ER discovered that she had developed air pockets in the walls of her lungs.

Sudden Onset of Severe Lung Problems

Doctors diagnosed Faliero with bullous emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by the formation of large air pockets, or pulmonary bullae, in the lung walls. These sacs can enlarge and rupture, causing lung collapse and severe respiratory distress.

While bullous emphysema is most commonly linked to long-term cigarette smoking, Faliero’s doctors attributed her condition to fluid buildup and inflammation caused by vaping. “My lung collapsed because it was building up with the liquid from my vape,” Faliero explained. “One of the pulmonary bullae ended up rupturing, and that could kill me instantly.” 

Woman Claims Vaping Habit Left Her Unable to Lie Flat Without Risk of Suffocation

Understanding Bullous Emphysema and Its Risks

Bullous emphysema is a serious lung condition with no cure, though it can be managed with medical treatment and lifestyle changes. According to the Cleveland Clinic, smoking remains the primary cause, but emerging evidence suggests that vaping may also contribute to lung damage through inhalation of harmful chemicals and aerosols.

In Faliero’s case, the damage was so severe that doctors recommended surgery to remove the ruptured bullae. Until the operation, she was warned she must avoid lying flat. “If I lay down when sleeping instead of sitting up, I can choke to death on my own spit or suffocate and die,” she said. This grim warning forced her to sleep only in a recliner or upright position.

Without Risk of Suffocation

Daily Life Impacted by Lung Damage

The side effects of vaping have not only affected Faliero’s lungs but also her ability to perform everyday tasks. To prevent further rupture or lung collapse, doctors advised her to avoid any physical exertion. This includes simple chores such as washing dishes, cooking, or climbing stairs.

“They say even lifting a gallon of milk is overdoing it for my body because of the way my lung has collapsed,” Faliero shared. “I can’t even cook dinner or stand up to do dishes because by the time I’m done, I’m literally crying in pain and gasping for air.” she laments.

“It really has taken over my life more than I ever thought it would,” she admitted. “I quit something thinking that it was going to be healthier, but unfortunately, it destroyed me more than it benefited me.”