If spicy is not a taste, but pain: Does it do actual damage?

Question

Spicy is perceived by the same receptors as the feelings hot and/or pain. But is this just some “trickery” of the receptors or does spicy food do actual damage? And if it doesn’t do actual damage: Why do people sometimes still throw up because of it (if it was too much)?

In: 212

Answer 1

The “spicy” chemical itself doesn’t directly damage your body unless it’s very concentrated. However, if your body freaks out because it thinks it’s getting damaged, there can be a lot of indirect effects, like vomiting, your heart rate skyrocketing, or your throat swelling.