Too Much Red Bull Can Kill You; 4 Reasons Why Energy Drinks Can Be Bad for You

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A 28-year-old man suffered a heart attack due to his addiction and years of consuming the energy drink, Red Bull.

Martin Bowling of Romford, Essex collapsed and was rushed to the hospital after downing two litres of Red Bull. He only remembered waking up at the hospital after he was helped by a stranger.

According to the Daily Mail, Bowling has been addicted to energy drinks for seven years and shells around $114 (£75) on it weekly.

"I had been drinking them for about seven years and it was like I had become mentally addicted," said Bowling. "Sometimes I could find myself in arguments if I hadn't had one. The amount I was drinking was slowly increasing since I started when I was 21."

Bowling adds that people ought to be more careful when purchasing and drinking energy drinks. A dietitian told the outlet that normal caffeine intake doesn't normally affect heart health, but some people can be more sensitive to it especially young children.

"A 250 ml can of energy drink typically contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee," said Gavin Partington of the British Soft Drinks Association. "Energy drinks producers provide caffeine content on all labelling and recommend consumption in moderation."

Energy drinks are beverages that contain caffeine and other stimulating substances and are designed and marketed to give temporary energy boosts. According to an article published by Brown, these drinks may contain 75 milligarms to 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving. For comparison, a Coke can has 34 milligrams of caffeine while a canned Mountain Dew has 55 milligrams.

Other than giving temporary energy, drinking too much can be bad. Here are other reasons why:

1.) It can be dehydrating

According to the article by Brown, some ingredients in energy drinks are stimulants and this could lead to increased heart rate & blood pressure and dehydrate the body because it is diuretic. Since it gives temporary energy, sleep may be out of the question until the effects subside. Energy drinks should be avoided when exercising or doing physical activities as this can lead to extreme dehydration.

2.) It can increase anxiety

According to a study published on Research Gate, people with genetic variations in their adenosine receptors can experience increased anxiety when they consume coffee or energy drinks.

3.) It can cause addiction

Just like Mr. Bowling, energy drinks can cause caffeine addiction so severe that it can interfere with daily functions of living and impact financially from having to buy the beverage daily, according to Caffeine Informer.

4.) It can interfere with prescription medication

Another article by the Caffeine Informer states that some ingredients in energy drinks can interfere with prescription medication including the ones for depression.