He suffered from heart and kidney failure
A 21-year-old student developed heart failure after consuming an excessive amount of energy drinks every day over the course of two years.
The university student, who is not named in the British Medical Journal report, drank four 500ml bottles of energy drinks per day and required hospital treatment.
Before requiring hospital treatment, the young man experienced weight loss and shortness of breath for four months.
The 21-year-old also suffered from heart palpitations, indigestion and tremors for several months, the report revealed.
Tests showed that the young patient suffered from heart and kidney failure.
Doctors from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “Energy drink-induced cardiotoxicity was felt to be the most likely cause.”
The student, who contributed to the BMJ report, remained in hospital for 58 days and was even admitted to the intensive care unit during his stay.
The patient said in the report: “When I was drinking up to four energy drinks per day, I suffered from tremors and heart palpitations, which interfered with my ability to concentrate on daily tasks and my studies at university.
“I also suffered from severe migraine headaches which would often occur during the periods when I did not drink energy drink; this also restricted my ability to perform day-to-day tasks and even leisurely activities such as going to the park or taking a walk.
“I was eventually admitted to the intensive care unit. This experience was extremely traumatising.”
The patient added that he believes there should be “more awareness” about energy drinks and the implications of their ingredients.
He added: “I believe they are very addictive and far too accessible to young children. I think warning labels, similar to smoking, should be made to illustrate the potential dangers of the ingredients in energy drink.”
The lead author of the study, Dr Kelly Morgan, said: “The daily use of energy drinks among a proportion of young people has not declined – and our study reveals a widening disparity in consumption rates between those from low and high socioeconomic groups.
“Marketing campaigns for energy drinks are often aimed at those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. They are also an affordable choice and regularly available at cheaper prices than bottles of water.
“Their popularity,” she said. “Is unlikely to wane unless legislative and policy measures are put in place.”
