A medical team warned that excessive consumption of energy drinks may significantly increase the risk of stroke, due to the high concentration of caffeine and other ingredients that raise blood pressure, according to a study published by the “Independent” newspaper.
Energy drinks threaten the life of a man in his fifties
The study showed a dangerous effect of energy drinks, as doctors at the University Hospitals of Nottingham, affiliated with the “British National Health Service”, revealed the case of a man in his fifties, who was in good health before being admitted to the hospital due to a sudden ischemic stroke, resulting from a blockage in the small blood vessels.
The man showed symptoms including:
- Weakness on the left side.
- Difficulty swallowing and speaking.
- Imbalance.
MRI scans revealed an ischemic stroke, and blood pressure readings upon the man’s arrival at the hospital were dangerously high, reaching 254/150 (mmHg), exceeding the normal range of 90/60 and 120/80 (mmHg).
Despite the success of the medication in lowering blood pressure, it returned to rise as soon as the patient left the hospital.
Excessive caffeine consumption
During their follow-up of the patient, the doctors discovered that he was consuming about 8 cans of energy drink daily, each containing 160 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to 1200 to 1300 milligrams per day, which is three times higher than the recommended maximum limit of 400 milligrams per day.
After the man stopped consuming these drinks, his blood pressure returned to normal levels within just one week, and he no longer needed any medication to lower blood pressure.
Medical recommendations and conclusions
Doctors and health experts confirmed in a report for the “BMJ Case Reports” journal that excessive consumption of highly concentrated energy drinks was most likely the main factor in high blood pressure and stroke in the man.
Although conclusive evidence is still being researched, several studies indicate a possible link between energy drinks and an increased risk of stroke and heart disease in the short and long term.
Another report also indicated that “energy drinks contain a group of ingredients that enhance the effect of caffeine, such as taurine, guarana, ginseng, and glucuronolactone, which are substances that increase the risk of a person developing high blood pressure and stroke through multiple mechanisms.
