Student left fighting for his life after energy drinks caused heart fail
Student left fighting for his life after energy drinks caused heart fail
A man who developed heart failure after drinking four energy drinks over two years is warning others against them.
The 21-year-old, whose name is unknown, drank two liters of caffeinated drinks a day before eventually needing hospital treatment, according to BMJ.
Doctors wrote the report on the college student’s fall after he sought medical instructions because he was suffering from shortness of breath and weight loss.
He had also been experiencing indigestion, palpitations and tremors for four months. Tests showed he had heart and kidney failure.
Everyone can take 160 mg of caffeine, which means he was consuming 640 mg a day.
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency says 300 mg is considered a safe limit, but the BMJ suggests less is better.
Doctors at Guy’s and St Thomas‘ NHS Foundation Trust Training Castle: “Energy drink-induced cardiotoxicity was appropriate as the most likely cause.” The patient spent 58 days in hospital, with doctors dealing with organ transplants on a stage.
After nine months he was back to normal, but still wants a kidney transplant.
“I was finally admitted to the intensive care unit. This experience was extremely traumatic.” Said
“I think there should be more awareness about energy drinks and the effect of what they contain. I think they are very addictive and are very accessible to young children.”
Academics at Cardiff University conducted a survey of 176,000 children in Wales, aged between 11 and 16 and report that energy drinks are highly addictive and tend to target those from disadvantaged backgrounds
