By Haifa Chairunisa
A physically fit man in his 50s in the United Kingdom was rushed to hospital after suddenly losing sensation on the left side of his body. Despite having no history of smoking or alcohol consumption, medical tests showed his blood pressure had surged to a dangerously high level of 254/150 mmHg, triggering a hypertensive crisis that led to a stroke.
Further examinations revealed the man had been consuming up to eight cans of high-potency energy drinks every day. His daily caffeine intake reached around 1.2 grams, nearly three times higher than the recommended safe limit of 400 milligrams.
According to a report by Live Science, doctors diagnosed the patient with a lacunar stroke, a condition caused by blockage in small blood vessels in the brain. Excessive intake of caffeine, along with stimulants such as taurine and guarana commonly found in energy drinks, can cause sudden constriction of blood vessels in the brain.
Doctors also noted that the high sugar content in the drinks damaged the lining of his blood vessels, while the excessive stimulants placed extreme strain on the heart, rapidly driving up blood pressure.
After completely stopping energy drink consumption, the man’s blood pressure returned to normal within three weeks. He was able to resume work, but continued to suffer permanent numbness in his hands and feet for the next eight years.
“I didn’t realize the danger,” the man said. “Now I have to live with numbness in my hands and feet for the rest of my life.”
Original article
Comments