Health and Me

Itisha Arya

Man Suffers Stroke After Heavy Energy Drink Use – Why Doctors Are Concerned?

heavy energy drink use

A fit and otherwise healthy man in his fifties has been left without sensation on the entire left side of his body after suffering a stroke linked to his daily energy drink habit. Doctors were puzzled at first because his medical history was clear, yet his blood pressure was extremely high. It was only when he admitted to drinking about eight cans a day that they traced the cause of the clot in his brain. 

The case has prompted specialists writing in the BMJ Case Reports journal to push for tighter oversight of energy drinks, which are consumed by more than 1.7 million people in the UK. Concerns about their safety have grown in recent years, especially since some contain more caffeine than several shots of espresso.

<h2><span rel="noindex">Energy Drink Warning</span> After Man Suffers Stroke Due To Excessive Consumption</h2>

Reaching for an energy drink may feel like a quick solution when fatigue sets in, but with rising questions about their health impact, experts are asking people to be careful. A December 2025 case report in BMJ Case Reports described how heavy use of energy drinks may raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The man in his fifties arrived at the hospital with extremely high blood pressure. He had weakness on the left side of his body, numbness and trouble with balance, walking, swallowing and speech. Tests confirmed a stroke. His blood pressure dropped with treatment, but once he returned home, it rose again despite being on medication.

Further questioning showed he had been drinking roughly eight energy drinks every day. Each one contained around 160 milligrams of caffeine, far above the recommended daily amount. When he stopped drinking them, his blood pressure settled and he no longer needed medication.

<h2>How Are <span rel="noindex">Energy Drinks Bad For Your Heart</span>?</h2>

Many energy drinks have high levels of caffeine and sugar, both of which can raise health concerns.

“Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep, worsen insomnia and add to mental health strain,” Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard Medicine School of Public Health, told TODAY.com.

The FDA advises that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is safe for most adults. A single energy drink can reach or exceed that range, Hu said. A small energy shot can contain around 230 milligrams of caffeine, an 8.4-ounce drink can have about 80 milligrams and a 20-ounce can may reach 190 milligrams. People react to caffeine differently, the FDA notes.

Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic, said that caffeine on its own may be safe for many, but when it is combined with other stimulants commonly found in energy drinks, the total effect may be too strong for the heart and blood vessels.

“The idea is that caffeine mixed with other ingredients creates a stronger stimulant response that affects heart rate, heart rhythm or blood pressure,” Zeratsky told TODAY.com. “That is what can send someone to the emergency department with a cardiac issue.”

Along with caffeine, Hu and Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition, pointed out another problem in many energy drinks: large amounts of sugar.

“Excess sugar contributes to weight gain, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Because these drinks offer calories without nutrients, it is very easy to take in more than you realise,” Hu said.

Zumpano noted that this sugar load is especially risky for people with diabetes, obesity, heart disease or high triglycerides, which increase the chance of heart attack and stroke. “These drinks can also play a part in developing those conditions,” she said.

<h2>Look At Ingredient Labels Before Consuming Energy Drink</h2>

If you need an energy boost, the experts encouraged choosing options that are healthier than energy drinks. But if you still decide to buy one, they suggested checking the label closely. Try to avoid caffeine and sugar levels that exceed daily recommendations and stay cautious of long ingredient lists.

Energy drinks often contain caffeine, sugar, added vitamins and amino acids. Common ingredients include ginseng, guarana, L-carnitine and taurine. Zumpano explained that while these may be considered safe on their own, their combined effect is not well understood.

“Some of these ingredients are familiar, and for others we do not have enough strong research, so they are not recommended if you plan to drink them often,” she said. She advised avoiding drinks with ingredients you do not recognise and choosing those with simpler formulations.

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A fit and otherwise healthy man in his fifties has been left without sensation on the entire left side of his body after suffering a stroke linked to his daily energy drink habit. Doctors were puzzled at first because his medical history was clear, yet his blood pressure was extremely high. It was only when he admitted to drinking about eight cans a day that they traced the cause of the clot in his brain. The case has prompted specialists writing in the BMJ Case Reports journal to push for tighter oversight of energy drinks, which are consumed by more than 1.7 million people in the UK. Concerns about their safety have grown in recent years, especially since some contain more caffeine than several shots of espresso.Energy Drink Warning After Man Suffers Stroke Due To Excessive ConsumptionReaching for an energy drink may feel like a quick solution when fatigue sets in, but with rising questions about their health impact, experts are asking people to be careful. A December 2025 case report in BMJ Case Reports described how heavy use of energy drinks may raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.The man in his fifties arrived at the hospital with extremely high blood pressure. He had weakness on the left side of his body, numbness and trouble with balance, walking, swallowing and speech. Tests confirmed a stroke. His blood pressure dropped with treatment, but once he returned home, it rose again despite being on medication.Further questioning showed he had been drinking roughly eight energy drinks every day. Each one contained around 160 milligrams of caffeine, far above the recommended daily amount. When he stopped drinking them, his blood pressure settled and he no longer needed medication.How Are Energy Drinks Bad For Your Heart?Many energy drinks have high levels of caffeine and sugar, both of which can raise health concerns.“Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep, worsen insomnia and add to mental health strain,” Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard Medicine School of Public Health, told TODAY.com.The FDA advises that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is safe for most adults. A single energy drink can reach or exceed that range, Hu said. A small energy shot can contain around 230 milligrams of caffeine, an 8.4-ounce drink can have about 80 milligrams and a 20-ounce can may reach 190 milligrams. People react to caffeine differently, the FDA notes.Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic, said that caffeine on its own may be safe for many, but when it is combined with other stimulants commonly found in energy drinks, the total effect may be too strong for the heart and blood vessels.“The idea is that caffeine mixed with other ingredients creates a stronger stimulant response that affects heart rate, heart rhythm or blood pressure,” Zeratsky told TODAY.com. “That is what can send someone to the emergency department with a cardiac issue.”Along with caffeine, Hu and Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition, pointed out another problem in many energy drinks: large amounts of sugar.“Excess sugar contributes to weight gain, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Because these drinks offer calories without nutrients, it is very easy to take in more than you realise,” Hu said.Zumpano noted that this sugar load is especially risky for people with diabetes, obesity, heart disease or high triglycerides, which increase the chance of heart attack and stroke. “These drinks can also play a part in developing those conditions,” she said.Look At Ingredient Labels Before Consuming Energy DrinkIf you need an energy boost, the experts encouraged choosing options that are healthier than energy drinks. But if you still decide to buy one, they suggested checking the label closely. Try to avoid caffeine and sugar levels that exceed daily recommendations and stay cautious of long ingredient lists.Energy drinks often contain caffeine, sugar, added vitamins and amino acids. Common ingredients include ginseng, guarana, L-carnitine and taurine. Zumpano explained that while these may be considered safe on their own, their combined effect is not well understood.“Some of these ingredients are familiar, and for others we do not have enough strong research, so they are not recommended if you plan to drink them often,” she said. She advised avoiding drinks with ingredients you do not recognise and choosing those with simpler formulations.