Teenager hospitalised with heart trouble after six-year vape habit left him feeling like he was 'breathing through a straw'

A teenager has revealed he was hospitalised after a six-year vape habit left him feeling like he was 'breathing through a straw'.Freddie Janman's addiction ran so deep that he continued secretly puffing on his e-cigarette from his hospital bed.The 18-year-old, from Surrey, is one of a growing number of youngsters using the devices, which were initially developed as a stop-smoking aid.More than a million under 17s in Britain have tried vapes, which contain the addictive substance nicotine.And experts have recently warned that these youngsters are more likely to start smoking cigarettes – a leading driver in heart disease and deadly lung cancer.Freddie, now a musician, first used a vape aged 12 – while he was still at school.He said it looked 'really innocent' and didn't feel as harmful as inhaling the 'horrible smoke' from cigarettes. 'It tasted nice and I got a bit of a buzz from it,' he said. Freddie Janman first used a vape aged 12 and grew dependent on the devices over six years But Freddie had lived with asthma since the age of three – a condition that causes breathing difficulties and had already seen him hospitalised 'consistently' as a child. Asthma sufferers are advised to avoid smoking and vaping because both can worsen symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing and shortness of breath.As Freddie's dependence on vapes deepened, he began suffering repeated chest infections which required courses of antibiotics. Initially, he hid the habit from his parents and doctors. But by the age of 16, with his health problems becoming increasingly frequent, he finally admitted the addiction.His family and medical professionals urged him to stop and encouraged him to use NHS stop-smoking support.But still, he continued to secretly buy them.Freddie would inhale around 1,200 puffs of vape every day, starting from the minute he woke up, to a quick hit in the toilets at school during the day, all the way until he went to sleep.That's around 80mg of nicotine – the equivalent to how much nicotine the body inhales from smoking two packs of cigarettes every day. The NHS says nicotine is very addictive but does 'not contain toxic chemicals', stressing that the substance does not cause cancer, lung disease, heart disease or stroke.However, research published in the European Heart Journal last year argued that nicotine use is 'a global public health threat'.Scientists led from the University Medical Centre in Mainz, Germany, concluded that nicotine can raise blood pressure and heart rate, damage blood vessels and make arteries stiffer, increasing strain on the heart.It said nicotine promotes the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries, increases the risk of blood clots and can reduce blood flow to the heart, potentially raising the risk of heart attacks.The authors also linked nicotine to abnormal heart rhythms, inflammation and oxidative stress, all of which are associated with heart disease.The NHS notes that nicotine can be 'difficult to stop using once you have started' and warns that its use can also trigger a range of side effects, including dizziness, headaches, a racing heart rate, vomiting, stomach cramps and weakness. Over six years, Freddie says he spent around £4,000 on vapes and refills containing the liquid that is heated by the device to produce an aerosol, which is then inhaled. However, his final purchase came on March 30.Freddie woke up that morning complaining of a tight chest, which worsened to the point he felt like he was 'breathing through a straw'.'My chest was really tight,' Freddie said. 'I can only describe it as it felt like [my heart] was squeezed.'It was really tight.' Over six years, Freddie says he spent around £4,000 on vapes and refills He has lived with asthma since the age of three – a condition that causes breathing difficulties and seen him hospitalised 'consistently' as a childExperts have said that there is a 'growing body of evidence linking vaping to respiratory problems in children'. Just last month, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conducted a comprehensive review into the impact of vaping on children and youngsters.After analysing more than 14,000 published papers, 325 studies in full and findings from 81 studies, they concluded that vaping is linked to several health problems for children and teenagers, particularly affecting the lungs and breathing system.Young people who vape were found to be more likely to experience coughing, wheezing, bronchitis-like symptoms and worsening asthma. At first, Freddie tried to treat his discomfort himself with acid reflux medication and heartburn tablets. But his girlfriend, Zoe Henrick, 18, became increasingly concerned as his condition deteriorated – particularly given his history with asthma and infections – and drove him to A&E. After being assessed, Freddie said doctors told him his oxygen levels were 'really low'.Medics appeared 'very concerned,' he added, before admitting him to hospital for four nights, where he received oxygen.It is believed he suffered an asthma attack, a life-threatening reaction with severe symptoms of the condition that can force the heart to work harder. Despite the risk to his life, Freddie reached for his vape while on the hospital bed and continued to 'sneakily' puff on it whenever doctors weren't looking.That is until he spoke to a Stop Smoking nurse on April 2.These nurses provide tailored support to help smokers quit, offering counselling, advice on stop-smoking treatments and information about the health benefits of quitting.Research shows that a chat with one of them can increase the likelihood of a smoker giving up the habit for good, according to the NHS. After his chat, Freddie said he threw his vape 'in the bin' and finally 'had some clarity'. 'I needed to just hit this on the head, so I did,' he added.The nurse gave him nicotine gum and patches to help manage his cravings, while a doctor prescribed an inhaler designed to reduce inflammation in the airways and make breathing easier. It also stops symptoms such as wheezing and coughing developing.Freddie said he has not touched a vape since and has noticed a significant improvement in his health. The teen was so thankful for the care that he even wrote a song about it under his artist name, fredstar, called Sacrifice My Soul. 'I just left feeling a euphoria of gratefulness,' he said.'And if I can stop someone from picking up a vape by sharing my story, then I'm happy.'Nazir Hussain, clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK and specialist respiratory pharmacist, said: 'Freddie's experience of vaping as a young child is sadly far too common.'There is a growing body of evidence linking vaping to respiratory problems in children.'For those with lung conditions like asthma, we know it can worsen symptoms and trigger asthma attacks.'Asthma + Lung UK’s helpline supports anyone with a lung condition and their loved ones. Patients can get in touch on 0300 222 5800.