Studies have linked energy drinks to heart problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
A 34-year-old man has died of cardiac arrest after drinking Red Bull energy drink daily, his wife has said. According to Meagan Shreve, her husband’s caffeine addiction caused him to drink at least three cans a day until his heart stopped beating.
In a video shared on social media, Meagan recounts how doctors performed emergency chest compressions on Aaron to help him breathe, resulting in his ribs breaking. He was then forced to stay in the hospital for a month, while his heart rate was monitored. Meagan claims doctors told her Aaron’s cardiac arrest was caused by dehydration and him drinking too many energy drinks.
According to Meagan, Aaron was drinking about 2 or 3 of the energy drink along with “a lot of coffee.”
Aaron mistook cardiac arrest for a panic attack
Meagan said Aaron’s ordeal began in January, when he became extremely uncomfortable one night. “His heart was racing, his hands and feet were going numb and he just didn’t feel right,” she said. “I thought he was having a panic attack… he said, ‘I think you need to call 911, I think I need to go to the hospital,'” she added.
And at the hospital, his heart stopped beating. “All these alarms started going off… his heart stopped,” she said. Doctors treating him then began performing emergency chest compressions in an attempt to restart his heart and keep him alive. They were able to restart Aaron’s heart, though, and after six weeks of monitoring, he returned home.
The doctors had no idea about his condition.
According to Meagan, doctors had no idea why an otherwise healthy man had suffered cardiac arrest. Eventually, after detailed consultations and tests, they said that caffeinated drinks had exacerbated the effects of dehydration. However, he suffered another cardiac arrest that proved fatal.
Studies have linked energy drinks to heart problems, including heart attacks and strokes, as well as irregular heartbeats and even cardiac arrest.
How are energy drinks harmful to heart health?
Studies indicate that energy drinks have become increasingly popular, especially among young adults. An estimated 30 percent of U.S. teens consume these sugar-laden beverages on a regular basis.
Although they are promoted to improve physical or mental performance, excessive consumption of energy drinks has been associated with several side effects, including increased blood pressure, heart disease and heart attacks.
According to research, energy drinks contain moderate to high amounts of caffeine and sugar, as well as stimulant ingredients such as guarana, taurine, carnitine, and ginseng. According to studies, the maximum recommended daily intake of caffeine should be 100 milligrams per day for adolescents and 400 mg per day for adults. However, some of these drinks contain more than 500 mg of caffeine, which causes caffeine toxicity.
Heart problems caused by energy drinks
Experts say that energy drinks can damage the heart in a number of ways, causing various cardiovascular problems, including:
Atrial fibrillation
This is the most common type of heart arrhythmia, which causes a rapid, pounding heartbeat or shortness of breath that leads to cardiac arrest.
Hypertension
Also known as hypertension, it is another risk factor for heart attack.
Heart failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Weakness
- Cold sweats
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual tiredness
- Nausea or vomiting
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