Just Say No To The ‘Cinnamon Challenge’
March 30, 2012 by admin
Filed under News Stories
March 30, 2012
NPR
By Scott Hensley
“Cinnamon is an amazing spice. Not only is it yummy, but it’s actually quite healthy for you too. But don’t be an idiot and try eating a spoonful of it. Common sense, please.” –KTRN
Do not take the “cinnamon challenge.” Don’t let anyone you know take it, either.
And don’t take our word for it. Instead, heed the warning from the folks who run the country’s poison control centers.
“We urge parents and caregivers to talk to their teens about the cinnamon challenge, explaining that what may seem like a silly game can have serious health consequences,” says a statement from Dr. Alvin Bronstein, medical director for the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center.
If you’ve never heard of the cinnamon challenge, good! But, if you must know, it boils down to consuming a spoonful of ground cinnamon in a hurry — without a drop of liquid to wash it down.
Sounds easy. But it’s not. The cinnamon is remarkably effective at drying out your mouth. Add in the spicy burn, and you’ve got trouble. Gagging, coughing and worse.
As Bronstein says, “teens who engage in this activity often choke and vomit, injuring their mouths, throats and lungs. Teens who unintentionally breathe the cinnamon into their lungs also risk getting pneumonia….”
And for people with asthma or other respiratory problems, the challenge is even riskier than for those without them.
