'Iron Lung' Resurfaces as COVID Long-Haulers Reportedly Use Vintage Device, Sparking Online Debate Over Modern Medicine's Failures
A viral video circulating on social media shows a woman in her late 30s, a former marathon runner, voluntarily entering a refurbished 1950s iron lung to combat severe respiratory complications from long COVID. The clip, which has amassed over 12 million views on TikTok, claims the negative pressure ventilation device provides immediate relief where modern ventilators and CPAP machines have failed. Medical experts are urgently clarifying that this is not a recommended treatment, citing infection risks and psychological trauma, but patient testimonials present a different narrative. As the "iron lung" trend sweeps forums like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), the debate intensifies over whether we have regressed in respiratory care or simply rediscovered a forgotten, effective tool.