TikTok has become a go-to platform for people worldwide, whether to learn a new cooking trick, pick up a workout trend, or simply enjoy dance videos. Love it or loathe it, TikTok has firmly established itself in our digital culture.
Occasionally, trends circulate on TikTok, and people quickly jump on the bandwagon. It’s surprising how someone without much expertise can act as an authority, attracting hundreds or even thousands of followers.
Many users turn to TikTok for gym inspiration and might even try out trending workouts, such as the ‘dry scooping’ trend.
If you’re a regular gym-goer, you’re likely familiar with or know someone who uses protein powder. Typically, these powders are meant to be mixed with water or another liquid before consumption.
However, the ‘dry scooping’ trend on TikTok has people bypassing the mixing step and swallowing the powder directly. While this might seem like a convenient shortcut, it’s actually a dangerous practice.
How dangerous, you ask? One young woman claimed to have suffered a heart attack after trying it, while others reported difficulty breathing due to the dry powder entering their lungs.
One potential risk of dry scooping is consuming a large amount of caffeine at once. Briatney Portillo, a young woman who suffered a heart attack after dry scooping at just 20 years old, shared her harrowing experience.
She recounted, “After I took the pre-workout, I started to feel tingly and itchy all over my body, which wasn’t a good feeling. I googled it and found it was a normal side effect, so I continued with my workout. I then felt a heavy sensation in my chest and mild pain but dismissed it as anxiety or a panic attack and pushed through my workout.”
Her condition deteriorated as she became lightheaded and started sweating profusely. The chest pain intensified, accompanied by pain in her left arm, leading her to realize she was experiencing a heart attack and prompting her to call 911.
One significant issue with using pre-workout powder in this manner is the uncertainty of its contents. Dr. Jason Nagata, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, highlighted that these powders are not regulated by the FDA and could potentially contain banned substances such as stimulants, steroids, and other harmful ingredients. Many of these substances can elevate the risk of heart attacks, liver disease, and other severe medical complications.
Portillo now warns others, stating, “At 20, I never imagined I’d have a heart attack from pre-workout. I want people to be cautious about what they consume. Just because it’s popular online, even if ‘fitness influencers’ are doing it, doesn’t mean it’s safe. Youth doesn’t make us invincible.”
