Fried food can trigger a rare disease.

For many years, scientists have warned that consuming fried foods in excess is a surefire way to a heart attack. But now, experts are raising alarms about another, more unpleasant consequence of indulging in fried foods.

Fried Foods Can Cause Blood Blisters in the Mouth

According to medical professionals, fried foods can potentially trigger a rare condition characterized by painful, yet benign, blood-filled blisters in the mouth. This little-known condition, known as “hemorrhagic bullous angina” (HBA), can also be caused by consuming hot foods and beverages. Dental procedures, such as fillings and crowns, may also act as triggers for this rare disease.

Japanese doctors reported that a 50-year-old man came to them complaining of bleeding from his mouth. He shared that for 20 years, he had experienced throat bleeding every time he ate fried foods, such as pork cutlets.

In an effort to stop this from happening again, he banned himself from this unhealthy diet. However, the man confessed to the doctors that a new episode of bleeding began shortly after he had grilled dumplings for lunch.

As noted by the Daily Mail, doctors discovered an abnormal blood accumulation measuring 17 mm wide and 18 mm high on the right side of his throat. However, medical tests showed that his blood and clotting levels were normal.

Initially, they suspected that the bleeding might be caused by von Willebrand disease, a common hereditary condition that can lead to easier-than-usual bleeding. For instance, it can cause frequent, severe, and prolonged nosebleeds or bleeding from cuts. However, this condition does not cause blood blisters.

“Food Trauma” from Fried Foods

The recurrence of bleeding led doctors to diagnose HBA instead. In this condition, the bleeding typically resolves within a day, while the blisters heal without scarring within a week.

Doctors noted that the man’s bleeding stopped within 24 hours. Most blisters, which can range from 4 to 30 mm in width, also heal spontaneously and do not require treatment.

However, medical professionals warn that in rare cases, the formation of blood blisters can block the airways and require surgical intervention. They also noted that the patient had not experienced a recurrence for more than a year after his hospital visit, as he had been avoiding fried foods.

Medical experts analyzed 45 studies on the causes of HBA. They found that “food trauma” was the most common trigger. Researchers noted that physical or chemical trauma was particularly prevalent, mainly during the consumption of hard, hot, and crunchy foods.

This is the most confirmed etiology of this condition. Researchers also state that blood blisters from fried foods can appear at any age.

However, this phenomenon is most commonly observed in individuals aged 55 and older. It is also known that periodontal treatments, which involve cleaning above and below the gum line to treat gum disease, can also trigger hemorrhagic bullous angina.