A new and potentially harmful trend called the "cinnamon challenge" is sweeping the nation. It has parents and doctors alike trying to raise awareness about the activity.
Teens say the cinnamon challenge starts with a dare to see who can swallow the most without taking a drink of water. On the website www.cinnamonchallenge.com you can find the rules. Next to that there's a health warning. It even goes on to say you'll regret trying it.
Fresno teens are among the thousands who have posted videos on You tube of themselves or others trying to swallow a teaspoon full of cinnamon. While some people are laughing about it, doctors say it can cause serious damage to lungs and eyes.
It's virtually impossible for someone to swallow a tablespoon of the spice, because the human mouth doesn't have enough saliva to absorb it.
15-year-old Jeremy from Fresno tried it. He says, "You just choke on it. It gets your mouth all bunched up. It's really hard."
Andrew Hertz, M.D., UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, "It can get into your nose and into your airway, down into your lungs, which will cause you to have more coughing."
Doctors say in extreme cases the coughing could get so severe -- your lungs could collapse.
TXT 24
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