26-year-old's kidneys collapse after daily bubble tea habit

The woman, identified as Xiao Han, had developed a routine of drinking two cups of bubble tea every day to cope with work pressure. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition earlier this month after suddenly experiencing severe breathing difficulty caused by fluid-filled lungs. Doctors found toxin levels in her blood had reached dangerous levels, forcing emergency intubation and dialysis to keep her alive, Citinews reported.

According to Hong Yongxiang, a nephrologist in Taipei who revealed the case on Jan. 15, the patient had ignored months of warning signs. She had noticed persistent facial swelling for about half a year but assumed it was caused by late nights and work stress. Further tests showed she had long-standing proteinuria and chronic glomerulonephritis that had gone untreated for years.

Her daily intake of sugary drinks, combined with irregular sleep and other unhealthy habits, became the tipping point that rapidly pushed her already damaged kidneys into failure, Hong said.

The specialist warned that beverages high in fructose syrup are especially harmful when consumed in large quantities. During metabolism, fructose increases uric acid production, which can damage kidney tubules, trigger chronic inflammation and raise the risk of obesity and diabetes. He described Taiwan’s deeply ingrained bubble tea culture as a growing public health threat to kidney health.

Beyond sugar, Hong highlighted other common but overlooked risks, including chronic sleep deprivation, high-sodium and high-phosphorus diets from processed foods, excessive protein intake among gym-goers and the widespread misuse of over-the-counter painkillers and supplements. These factors can reduce blood flow to the kidneys and cause irreversible structural damage over time.

Doctors stress that kidney disease is particularly dangerous because symptoms often appear only after more than 70% of kidney function has already been lost. Unlike some other organs, the kidneys have no backup system, and once they fail, quality of life can decline sharply.