Vlogger suffers stroke after taking mukbang video

Experts warned against consuming extreme amounts of food and recommended healthy diets after a mukbang vlogger in Iligan City died of a stroke.

Vlogger Dongz Apatan, a well-known mukbang vlogger with over 400,000 followers on Facebook, suffered a stroke on June 14 after eating fried chicken.

According to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz on Friday, Apatan was rushed to hospital but died the next day.

Apatan’s sister Leah admitted that Dongz had high blood pressure, but stated  that he didn’t eat much and also ate non-fatty food.

She also said that his death was being disrespected on social media.

“Nasasaktan talaga kami na ginagawa siyang katatawanan ng mga tao, na parang walang respeto dahil sa content na kinukuha na hindi tama ang info," explained Leah.

"Kasi  andaming comment na si Manoy lang daw kasi deserve daw mamatay dahil  gahaman sa pagkain, pero content lang naman ‘yan. Hindi talaga malakas  kumain. Hindi rin niya inuubos din. Hindi gahaman si Manoy. Marami  siyang natulungan.”

(We’re hurt that people  are turning him into a laughing stock, like they have no respect because they get incorrect information from content. There are a lot of comments that Manoy deserved to die because he was greedy about food, but it’s just content. He doesn’t really eat  much. He doesn’t really finish it either. Manoy is not greedy. He has  helped a lot of people.)

Leah called on the public for help with the schooling of Apatan’s three children.

Meanwhile, cardiologist Tony Leachon said that Apatan’s death was caused by a hemorrhagic stroke.

“According to the doctors na nakakita siya sa emergency room, nagkaroon siya ng  blood clots sa brain. So, ibig sabihin tumaas ang blood pressure niya  [at] pumutok yung ugat sa brain niya. So, ang kinamatay niya, eh,  hemorrhagic stroke,” said Leachon.

(According to the doctors who treated him in the emergency room, he had blood clots in the brain. So, that means his blood pressure increased and blood vessels in his brain ruptured. So, the cause of death was hemorrhagic stroke.)

He warned that extreme consumption of food, especially red meat, may lead  to similar circumstances. He thus recommended a standard meal serving.

“Maalat [kasi] ang kinakain. Pangalawa, siyempre, ang pagkain niyan, eh,  karne.  Everyday mo gagawin yan. So, magbabara yung ugat mo rin sa  brain. So, stroke pa rin, eh, kamamatay mo yan. And then, the other one, pwede ka rin magka heart attack,” said Leachon.

(It is because of salty food. Second is the consumption of meat. You do it every day and your blood vessels in the brain will get blocked. So, a stroke could kill you. And then, the other one, you can also have a heart  attack.)

“Mas preferred natin ang fish and chicken over red  meat. And then, almost half of the plate ay gulay. Tapos, eh, prutas,”  he added.

(We recommend fish and chicken over red meat. And then, almost half of the plate is vegetables. And then fruits.)

Leachon also advised against the effects of mukbang vlogs, which may lead to complications for individuals attempting to copy the content.

“So, siguro, ito'y lessons learned para sa ating lahat. Pag naging habit  ito, ah, your habits kasi dictates your behavior, and your behavior  determines your destiny as well, eh. Um, ang pagkain talaga, pag sobra,  hindi maganda. Lalo na pagka maalat, mataba, at matamis,” he said.

(So, I guess this is a lesson for all of us. If this becomes a  habit, your habits dictate your behavior, and your behavior determines your destiny as well. Too much eating is not good. Especially  when it’s salty, fatty, and sweet)

Studies showed that  consistently watching mukbangs, derived from the Korean terms for “eat”  and “broadcast”, may lead to an eating disorder or internet addiction.

In previous years, video sharing platform YouTube has also cracked down on  similar content promoting “eating disorders.” — Jiselle Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News