The “Cinnamon Challenge” is a viral trend where a person attempts to swallow a tablespoon of ground cinnamon within 60 seconds without consuming any liquid. This feat is nearly impossible because the dry spice immediately absorbs moisture, coating and drying out the mouth and throat. Gagging, coughing, and difficulty swallowing often cause the powder to be accidentally inhaled, or aspirated, into the airways. This aspiration leads to serious health consequences, posing a threat to both immediate and long-term respiratory health.
The Immediate Answer: Is Fatality Possible
Yes, death is a possible outcome of the Cinnamon Challenge, although documented fatalities are rare. The most immediate cause of death is severe airway obstruction, or choking, where a clumped mass of powder physically blocks the windpipe, leading quickly to asphyxiation.
A more common cause involves secondary complications after the powder is aspirated into the lungs. Inhaled cinnamon can trigger severe aspiration pneumonia, an infection caused by foreign material entering the lungs. This condition can rapidly progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening state where inflamed lungs cannot adequately exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, often requiring mechanical ventilation.
One documented case confirmed the death of an 18-year-old from aspiration pneumonia directly linked to inhaling cinnamon powder during the challenge. Health authorities report that the challenge requires hospitalization for a significant percentage of participants.
Common Respiratory Damage from Inhalation
The primary danger arises when cinnamon powder is inhaled into the delicate tissues of the lungs. This aspiration causes immediate and severe pulmonary inflammation in the airways. The damage often requires immediate medical attention, sometimes needing emergency intervention or ventilator support for collapsed lungs.
A common severe consequence is aspiration pneumonitis, a non-infectious inflammation that occurs within minutes of the powder entering the lungs. This inflammation can progress to aspiration pneumonia as the body struggles to clear the foreign material.
Repeated or severe inhalation can lead to lasting damage, including the development of pulmonary fibrosis. This condition involves scarring of the lung tissue, which permanently reduces the lungs’ ability to function effectively. The resulting loss of elasticity and compromised gas exchange capacity is similar to the damage seen in emphysema.
Why Dry Cinnamon Is Dangerous to the Lungs
The hazard of ground cinnamon comes from its physical structure and chemical composition. The powder is composed of cellulose fibers that are both bioresistant and biopersistent. Cellulose is indigestible and does not dissolve or biodegrade within the lungs, meaning the particles remain lodged in the tissue long-term.
These trapped cellulose fibers act as a foreign body, causing chronic irritation and inflammation in the lung tissue. Furthermore, the powder contains cinnamaldehyde, which is the chemical component responsible for the spice’s flavor and aroma. Cinnamaldehyde acts as a caustic irritant, causing a burning sensation and severe inflammation upon contact with the sensitive lung lining.
The combined effect of the physical particles and the chemical irritant is a severe assault on the respiratory system. The fine particles absorb moisture rapidly, which then exacerbates the caustic effect of the cinnamaldehyde, leading to significant damage and scarring over time. This dual threat is why inhaling cinnamon is so much more harmful than simply ingesting it.