Bubble tea may be a favourite comfort drink, but excessive consumption can have devastating consequences.
A 26-year-old woman in Taiwan suffered irreversible kidney failure after drinking two cups of bubble tea daily to cope with work stress, according to a report by ET Today.
The woman reportedly led a high-pressure lifestyle, leaving home early and returning late most nights to meet performance targets. Over six months, she began experiencing facial swelling but dismissed it as a result of chronic sleep deprivation.
Her condition worsened dramatically when she suddenly struggled to breathe while working overtime. Colleagues rushed her to the emergency department, where doctors found fluid filling her lungs.
Nephrologist Dr Hong Yong Xiang revealed that blood tests showed 70% of her kidney function had already been destroyed. Due to kidney failure, waste products had accumulated in her bloodstream, causing severe fluid retention and breathing difficulties.
Doctors immediately inserted a breathing tube and started emergency dialysis to save her life. She was later diagnosed with end-stage renal failure and told she would need dialysis for the rest of her life.
Dr Hong recalled that both the woman and her mother broke down after hearing the diagnosis. Further tests revealed she had shown signs of kidney damage years earlier, including protein in her urine, but no treatment was pursued.
Doctors said her condition was worsened by chronic sleep deprivation and long-term overconsumption of sugary drinks.
Dr Hong warned that excessive intake of sweetened beverages is now one of the leading causes of kidney failure among young people. Other risk factors include lack of sleep, high-protein diets, frequent use of painkillers, and diets high in salt and processed foods.
He urged the public to take early warning signs seriously, noting that kidney disease often shows no symptoms until severe damage has already occurred.
