Do you use energy drinks to give you the “boost” you need to make it through your day? Unfortunately, energy drinks can give you much more than a boost if you consume them on a regular basis. What you don’t know about energy drinks could hurt – or even kill you. Between 2004 and 2012, the Food and Drug Administration linked Monster energy drinks to five deaths. Due to the dangers associated with these drinks, attorneys are filing energy drink lawsuits throughout the United States.
Energy Drinks and Your Health
If you consume energy drinks like 5-Hour Energy, Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, you could be putting your health and well-being at risk. While the ingredients in energy drinks may be safe, the amounts and the combination of these ingredients make drinking energy drinks potentially dangerous. Between 2010 and 2013, the poison control centers received more than 5,000 reports of people getting sick after drinking energy drinks, thousands involved children.
If you are consuming energy drinks, you should be aware of some of the dangers to your health.
Sugar Consumption
A typical energy drink can have between 21 and 34 grams of sugar per serving. The over consumption of sugar increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes which could eventually lead to diabetes if left untreated. This could result in a lifetime of painful insulin shots as well as the risk of developing diabetes-related conditions such as nerve damage, kidney failure, skin conditions, and vision impairment.
Caffeine Consumption
Caffeine is a natural stimulant; therefore, it is a major component of energy drinks. The amount of caffeine can vary greatly between brands; however, one serving of an energy drink can have as much as 357 milligrams per 16 ounce serving. The maximum caffeine an average adult should consume in one day is 400 mg; however, teens should limit consumption of caffeine to 100 mg per day and children should be limited to even less caffeine per day.
High amounts of caffeine can have various side effects including:
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Sleeping problems
- Stomach problems
- Muscle tremors
- Rapid heartbeat
Long-term caffeine consumption has been linked with several health conditions including an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and sleep disorders. A Mayo Clinic study linked the consumption of energy drinks with an increased risk of heart disease in young adults.
Risk of Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Consuming just one energy drink increases your blood pressure and increases norepinephrine (a hormone associated with stress) in your body. Long-term use of energy drinks can result in the development of heart disease and high blood pressure. For a healthy individual, drinking energy drinks on a regular basis can increase the risk for cardiovascular problems.
Liver Problems
Consuming energy drinks regularly on a long-term basis has also been linked to liver damage. The ingredients in the energy drinks can cause damage to the liver over time. In one case study, the liver damage was so severe that the man required a liver transplant. A woman in England had a liver twice its normal size after consuming multiple cans of energy drinks each day. Because of the damage to her liver, doctors originally thought she was an alcoholic.
Other Ingredients
Other ingredients in energy drinks may not be harmful in small doses; however, in large doses, they can result in the risk of health problems. For example, ginseng is believed to ease stress and increase memory and energy. However, it can also cause headaches, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and insomnia. Individuals taking antidepressants and heart medications could be at risk of serious complications when mixing ginseng with these medications.
Another popular ingredient in many energy drinks is taurine due to the belief it can help with athletic performance and mental ability. However, some research has shown a link between taurine and caffeine. Researchers found that people could experience chest pain, problems with their heart rate, and cardiac arrest when consuming taurine and caffeine together due to the buildup for calcium in heart cells.
Do You Believe You Have A Claim For An Energy Drink Lawsuit?
If you or your loved one has suffered harm or injury from consuming energy drinks, you may have a claim. By filing an energy drink lawsuit, you can hold these companies responsible for false advertisements, failure to disclose potential risks, and other negligent acts.
Contact the Goldwater Law Firm by calling 1-877-791-3560 for a free case evaluation. You may also contact our office online for a free case evaluation. We are dedicated to helping individuals and their families hold manufacturers responsible when their energy drinks cause injuries.