Ghost Pepper Challenge: How Did This Eating Contest Nearly Kill A Participant?

First Posted: Oct 21, 2016 04:50 AM EDT
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As part of an eating contest, a man in California ate a ghost pepper-pureed hamburger and suffered an unusual life-threatening condition soon after.
He was left with a collapsed lung and a hole in his throat.

According to Medical Daily, the unnamed 47-year-old man started to vomit and retch violently after finishing the ghost pepper challenge and drinking six glasses of water. He was vomiting nonstop and experienced severe stomach and chest pain.

After doing a CT scan, doctors discovered that the man's left lung had collapsed and his throat was torn. There was a one-inch tear in his esophagus and food leaked into the area around his left lung. Surgeons immediately performed surgery to re-inflate his lung and repair his throat.

The man experienced a condition called Boerhaave's syndrome or spontaneous esophageal rupture. It can be fatal in 20 to 40 percent of cases. Heavy alcohol and food intake can lead to this condition.

According to CBS News, ghost pepper is one of the hottest chili peppers in the world. It is two times hotter than a habanero. Research suggests that three pounds of ghost pepper can kill a 150-pound person.

The California native stayed in the hospital for 23 days. To help him recover, he was placed in a feeding tube. He would use the tube until his throat completely heals. As of writing, he is expected to fully recover.

The Journal of Emergency Medicine published the case report regarding the man's condition. According to the authors, the case serves as a reminder of a possible life-threatening emergency following a large consumption of meals. This applies to various situations, whether or not there is an eating contest.

Some think of an eating contest as a sport that encourages gluttony and can lead to extreme pain. This is true, basing on the recent case of this ghost pepper challenge participant. Risk takers and competitive eaters should take note of this.

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