On a Friday night with nothing to do, what could be more fun than videotaping a friend’s attempting to swallow a heaping spoonful of straight cinnamon? Although the scene may be hilarious and cause the spectators to burst with laughter, doctors warn against the rare but serious dangers that can follow. Their suggestion? Don't take the cinnamon challenge. This prank, made popular by thousands of uproarious YouTube videos, depict kids attempting the challenge, resulting in an “orange burst of dragon breath” spewing out of their mouths and sometimes hysterical laughter from friends watching the stunt, said Dr. Steven E. Lipshultz, a pediatrics professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. However, this stunt has led to an increasing number of hospitalizations and a surge in calls to U.S. poison centers, says Lipshultz’s report. The fad involves daring someone to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. Usually their eyes well up, they cough, grunt, groan and make scowling faces, which is funny to watch. But since the spice is caustic, trying to gulp it down can cause choking, throat irritation, breathing trouble and even collapsed lungs, the report said. Cinnamon is made from tree bark and contains cellulose fibers that don't easily break down. Animal research suggests that when cinnamon gets into the lungs, it can cause scarring, Lipshultz said. A report published by Lipshultz for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said at least 30 teens nationwide needed medical attention after taking the challenge last year. The number of poison control center calls about teens doing the prank "has increased dramatically," from 51 in 2011 to 222 last year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers." People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are at greater risk of having this result in shortness of breath and trouble breathing," according to an alert posted on the association's website. Tanner Denning, a freshman Business major from San Clemente, Calif., was startled when he heard news of the report. “I had no idea that it could do harm to anyone. It’s cinnamon,” he said, “But people do a lot of stupid things and this is one of them.” When asked if he had ever participated in this prank or anything like it before, Denning replied, “I tried it once. I hated it. It was so nasty. I don’t ever plan on doing it again.”Other personal testimonies of the prank can be found across the country. In Ypsilanti, Mich., a teen was hospitalized for a collapsed lung after trying the cinnamon challenge but now heartily supports the new advice and started her own website — www.nocinnamonchallenge.com — telling teens to "just say no" to the fad. In Lipshultz report, He tells the story of Dejah Reed, 16, who took the challenge four times — the final time was in February last year with a friend who didn't want to try it alone."I was laughing very hard and I coughed it out and I inhaled it into my lungs," she said. "I couldn't breathe."Her father, Fred Reed, said he arrived home soon after to find Dejah "a pale bluish color. It was very terrifying. I threw her over my shoulder," he said, and drove to a nearby emergency room. Dejah was hospitalized for four days and went home with an inhaler and said she still has to use it when she gets short of breath from running or talking too fast. Her dad said she'd never had asthma or breathing problems before. Dejah said she'd read about the challenge on Facebook and other social networking sites and "thought it would be cool" to try. Now she knows "it's not cool and it's dangerous."
Writer: Austin Meldrum ~ Copy Editor and AP
