How did vaping affect Kara Mullins' lungs?

Vaping residue made Kara Mullins' lungs fragile and 'crispy,' causing them to tear when inflamed by a flu infection.

What happened to Kara Mullins in the hospital?

Kara Mullins was placed on a ventilator in the ICU, then a medically-induced coma, and was later flown to a hospital in Phoenix due to severe lung damage.

What is Kara Mullins' warning about vaping?

Kara Mullins warns that vaping can cause permanent lung damage, potentially leading to severe health issues or death, and encourages people to avoid the habit.

Home / Health / Vaping Left Arizona Mom's Lungs 'Crispy' and Tearing

Vaping Left Arizona Mom's Lungs 'Crispy' and Tearing

17 Feb

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Summary

Vaping residue made lungs fragile, causing them to tear during a flu infection.
An Arizona mother was placed on a ventilator and in a medically-induced coma.
She warns against vaping, stating it caused permanent lung damage.

Vaping Left Arizona Mom's Lungs 'Crispy' and Tearing

An Arizona woman's belief that vaping was healthier than smoking led to severe lung damage, with her lungs reportedly becoming "crispy" and tearing. Kara Mullins, 49, switched to vaping four years ago after nearly three decades of smoking. When she contracted the flu in December 2025, her respiratory issues quickly escalated.

Mullins' condition worsened, leading to hospitalization and transfer to the ICU, where she was placed on a ventilator. Doctors informed her husband that while the flu caused inflammation, vape residue had made her lungs fragile. This fragility, they explained, caused her lungs to tear as they attempted to expand for breathing.