I have a lot of burning questions from that American Horror Story: Hotel premiere, the biggest of which is probably: Is it safe to drink blood? I mean, assuming Lady Gaga and Matt Bomer's characters are alive (I have my doubts on that, though) and their vampire kids are too, all that hemoglobin must be doing something weird to their systems, right? Thank goodness for the Internet, guys, because I found the answer to my question. (Also, I probably tripped some sort of NSA list. So, there's that.) And now, in case you were as curious as me, yes, drinking blood is a big no-no when it comes to your health.
I mean, duh. But, now I'll let science tell you that, too. Not only would the blood-drinker be in danger of contracting a blood-borne disease like HIV or hepatitis, but the properties in blood can be harmful to your health, as well. Live Science reports the following:
Because blood is so rich in iron — and because the body has difficulty excreting excess iron — any animal that consumes blood regularly runs a risk of iron overdose. While iron is necessary for all animals (and indeed most life), in high doses it can be toxic. This condition, called haemochromatosis, can cause a wide variety of diseases and problems, including liver damage, buildup of fluid in the lungs, dehydration, low blood pressure, and nervous disorders.
So, if Gaga's character Elizabeth is alive (and not a vampire like Murphy has confirmed), she might die of iron overdose. Or, my theory, she's already dead (hellllo Murder House connections) and can do whatever she damn pleases. Ah, the perks of the afterlife. (But, seriously, don't drink blood.)
Image: Suzanne Tenner/FX
