Briatney Portillo, a 20-year-old American dancer known as @brivtny on TikTok, reported suffering a heart attack after trying the viral dry scooping challenge in April 2021. The trend involved swallowing pre-workout supplement powder without first mixing it with water. Portillo developed chest pain, nausea and sweating before seeking emergency medical treatment. According to her account, doctors diagnosed a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Her experience drew international attention to the potential dangers of consuming concentrated stimulant supplements improperly.
Who Is Briatney Portillo?
Briatney Portillo is an American dancer and social media personality who became widely known in 2021 after sharing her experience with the dry scooping fitness trend.
She was 20 years old and living in New York when the incident occurred.
Portillo posted about the experience through her TikTok account, @brivtny, warning followers about the possible consequences of following viral fitness challenges.
Her story was subsequently covered by BuzzFeed, Inside Edition and several health news organizations.
What Happened to Briatney Portillo?
In April 2021, Portillo decided to try dry scooping after watching videos of other TikTok users taking pre-workout powder directly from a scoop.
Instead of mixing the supplement with water, she swallowed the powder before beginning her workout.
Shortly afterward, she experienced tingling and itching across her body.
She initially believed these sensations were ordinary side effects associated with pre-workout supplements and continued exercising.
However, she began experiencing pressure and discomfort in her chest.
Portillo initially thought the symptoms might be related to anxiety and attempted to continue her normal activities.
Her condition worsened later that day, prompting her to seek emergency medical assistance.
What Symptoms Did Briatney Portillo Experience?
Portillo described several symptoms following her consumption of the undiluted supplement:
- Tingling and itching shortly after ingestion.
- Chest pressure and discomfort during exercise.
- Nausea and headache after returning home.
- Heavy sweating and increasing chest pain.
- Pain spreading toward her back and left arm.
- Weakness in her left arm.
When the symptoms intensified, Portillo recognized that she might be experiencing something more serious than anxiety.
She contacted emergency services and was transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Did Briatney Portillo Have a Heart Attack?
According to Portillo's account, hospital doctors diagnosed her with a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, commonly called NSTEMI.
NSTEMI is a form of heart attack characterized by injury to the heart muscle without the characteristic persistent ST-segment elevation seen in certain other heart attacks.
Portillo reported that blood testing revealed elevated troponin levels, indicating heart muscle injury.
Troponin testing is commonly used alongside symptoms, electrocardiograms and other clinical findings when evaluating suspected heart attacks.
She remained in the hospital for observation and additional testing.
In a November 2021 interview with Inside Edition, Portillo said her doctor had attributed the event to excessive caffeine exposure associated with the supplement.
However, her complete medical records have not been publicly released, and the precise medical cause cannot be independently established from news reporting alone.
Was Briatney Portillo Using Protein Powder?
The supplement involved in Portillo's account was a pre-workout product, not ordinary protein powder intended primarily to supplement dietary protein intake.
Some reports used the terms interchangeably, but the distinction is important.
Protein powders primarily supply dietary protein, often from whey, casein, soy or other sources.
Pre-workout products are typically formulated to increase alertness or support exercise performance and may contain caffeine, beta-alanine, citrulline, creatine and other ingredients.
These formulations vary considerably between products.
Because Portillo's reported symptoms involved a stimulant-containing supplement, the event should not be generalized to ordinary protein powders.
What Is Dry Scooping?
Dry scooping is the practice of swallowing powdered pre-workout supplements without mixing them with the amount of liquid recommended by the manufacturer.
The trend became popular on TikTok in 2021, with participants claiming that consuming supplements dry could produce a faster or stronger energy boost.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no evidence supporting improved exercise performance from dry scooping.
The practice can instead expose users to unnecessary risks, including choking, breathing problems and adverse effects from concentrated stimulants.
Why Is Dry Scooping Dangerous?
1. Excessive Stimulant Exposure
Many pre-workout supplements contain substantial amounts of caffeine and sometimes other stimulants.
High caffeine intake may cause rapid heartbeat, palpitations, elevated blood pressure, anxiety, nausea and tremors.
Some individuals may experience more serious cardiovascular complications, particularly when taking excessive amounts or combining supplements with other caffeine sources.
Poison Control warns that consuming a concentrated dose of pre-workout powder can be dangerous, especially for people with underlying health conditions or heightened stimulant sensitivity.
2. Choking and Respiratory Problems
Swallowing a large amount of dry powder can cause coughing, choking or accidental inhalation into the airways.
These risks are separate from the effects of caffeine and other ingredients.
The American Academy of Pediatrics specifically warns against dry scooping because of the potential for breathing difficulties.
3. Injury to the Esophagus
Undiluted pre-workout powder can also irritate or damage the esophagus.
A medical case report published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in September 2023 described a patient who developed extensive esophageal ulcerations after repeatedly swallowing pre-workout powder without properly dissolving it.
The patient experienced painful and difficult swallowing.
After stopping the supplement and receiving medical treatment, significant improvement was documented over approximately four weeks.
Can Dry Scooping Cause a Heart Attack?
Serious cardiovascular events have been reported following dry scooping, but the available evidence does not establish how frequently they occur or whether dry scooping alone causes every reported event.
A case report published in SAGE Open Medical Case Reports in June 2024 described a previously healthy 25-year-old man who developed an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after recently adopting dry scooping.
The patient experienced severe chest pain, and coronary angiography revealed a blood clot completely obstructing a major coronary artery.
Doctors treated the blockage using balloon angioplasty and a drug-eluting stent.
The researchers discussed possible mechanisms involving stimulant exposure and coronary artery spasm, but acknowledged that the precise cause of the clot remained uncertain.
This case supports concern about potentially serious complications, although a single clinical report cannot establish a general causal relationship or population-wide risk.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
The US Food and Drug Administration states that 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is an amount generally not associated with adverse effects for most healthy adults.
However, individual sensitivity varies according to body weight, medications, medical conditions and other factors.
The FDA's figure is not a recommended single dose and does not guarantee safety for every individual.
Consumers should consider the combined caffeine content of pre-workout supplements, coffee, energy drinks and other products.
Taking more caffeine than necessary does not guarantee better physical performance and may increase the risk of side effects.
How to Use Pre-Workout Supplements More Safely
Anyone considering a pre-workout supplement should follow the manufacturer's instructions and understand the ingredients before use.
- Mix the powder with liquid: Never assume dry scooping provides additional benefits.
- Check stimulant content: Review caffeine and other active ingredients.
- Avoid combining stimulants: Consider other sources such as energy drinks and coffee.
- Do not exceed the recommended serving: Larger doses can increase adverse effects.
- Consider medical history: People with cardiovascular conditions or stimulant sensitivity should seek professional advice before use.
- Stop if concerning symptoms develop: Do not continue exercising through chest pain or severe palpitations.
Pre-workout supplements are not essential for regular exercise. Appropriate training, adequate nutrition, hydration and sufficient rest remain important foundations of fitness.
When Should Someone Seek Emergency Treatment?
Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, severe palpitations or discomfort spreading to the arm, back or jaw may indicate a medical emergency.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms after consuming a supplement should seek emergency medical assistance rather than waiting for them to disappear.
Symptoms of heart problems should not automatically be attributed to anxiety, exercise fatigue or an expected supplement reaction.
Healthcare professionals should be informed about the product, amount consumed and any other stimulants or medications taken.
What Happened to Briatney Portillo After the Incident?
Portillo recovered from the reported 2021 medical event and subsequently used her social media presence to warn others about dry scooping.
She discussed the experience during an Inside Edition interview published on November 11, 2021.
Her story became a widely cited example of the potential risks associated with viral supplement challenges.
As of November 2026, the reliable sources reviewed do not establish a substantial new medical development directly connected to her reported heart attack.
Conclusion
Briatney Portillo attracted international attention after reporting a heart attack following a TikTok dry scooping challenge in April 2021.
Her experience involved a stimulant-containing pre-workout supplement rather than ordinary protein powder. She described chest pain and other symptoms before receiving a reported NSTEMI diagnosis.
Subsequent medical research has documented additional serious complications following dry scooping, including esophageal injuries and a reported acute heart attack.
Although these reports do not prove that dry scooping alone causes every adverse event, the practice offers no established performance advantage and exposes users to avoidable risks. Pre-workout supplements should be used only according to their preparation and dosage instructions.