Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 10, 2025 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Medical News: Stroke Risk Tied to Daily Energy Drink Habit
British doctors have issued a serious health warning after treating a seemingly healthy man in his 50s who suffered a stroke linked to excessive energy drink consumption. The case was handled by medical experts from the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and published in the journal BMJ Case Reports. It highlights the potential dangers of consuming large amounts of energy drinks, especially among younger individuals who may be unaware of the risks.
Too many energy drinks daily could silently raise your risk of stroke and long-term nerve damage, doctors caution
The man reportedly drank eight cans of energy drinks every day. Each can contained about 160 mg of caffeine, leading to a total daily intake of over 1,200 mg—more than three times the recommended maximum limit of 400 mg per day. This intense caffeine intake caused his blood pressure to surge dangerously to 254/150 mm Hg, a level considered critically high.
Stroke Hit the Brain’s Sensory Center
The man suffered a stroke in the thalamus, the part of the brain that controls movement and sensory perception. Symptoms included numbness and weakness on his left side, as well as problems with balance, speech, and swallowing. Though initial treatment helped reduce his blood pressure, his condition worsened again after being discharged.
It was only upon further questioning that doctors discovered his energy drink habit. Once he stopped consuming the drinks, his blood pressure returned to normal, and medications were no longer needed. However, the stroke left lasting damage—he continues to suffer from numbness in his left hand, foot, and fingers even eight years later.
Energy Drinks and Hidden Dangers
This
Medical News report draws attention to how energy drinks—often marketed as performance boosters—can be dangerously misunderstood. The doctors noted that the man had no idea his daily habit could pose such serious health risks. Many people do not associate these drinks with cardiovascular problems or strokes.
Energy drinks often contain high sugar levels and several active ingredients that enhance the effects of caffeine, such as guarana, taurine, ginseng, and glucuronolactone. Guarana, for instance, contains caffeine at nearly twice the concentration of regular coffee beans, adding to the total caffeine load without being labeled clearly.
Call for Stronger Regulations
Doctors argue that stronger regulations are needed for the sale and advertising of energy drinks. Although some UK supermarkets voluntarily banned sales to under-16s in 2018, the potential stroke risk tied to these drinks remains underexplored. They also emphasize that younger people—who typically have lower stroke risk—might unknowingly increase their chances of cardiovascular events through high energy drink consumption.
A single energy drink can contain up to 500 mg of caffeine. C
ompared to just 30 mg in a cup of tea or 90 mg in coffee, the difference is alarming. The added sugars and other stimulants may further amplify health risks.
Understanding the Long-Term Health Impact
While this case study involves only one patient, researchers stress that the growing number of such reports should not be ignored. They say that considering the high number of strokes and deaths linked to cardiovascular diseases, taking proactive steps—such as limiting energy drink ads and increasing public awareness—could save lives.
Doctors recommend that healthcare providers start asking more specific questions about energy drink consumption, especially when treating high blood pressure or unexplained strokes. Public health campaigns may also be crucial in educating people about how these beverages can silently damage the body over time.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: BMJ Case Reports.
https://casereports.bmj.com/content/18/12/e267441
For the latest on the adverse effects of energy drinks, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/health-news-study-finds-that-caffeine-intake-causes-cardiovascular-issues-and-consumption-of-more-than-120-mg-causes-vasodilation-of-cerebral-arteries
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-shows-that-drinking-more-than-2-cups-of-coffee-triggers-migraines
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/subtle-signs-you-could-be-in-danger-ahead-of-a-stroke
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