Deaths Linked to Energy Drinks

Is it finally happening? Were all the adults in our life right this whole time? Are the energy drinks we’ve been pounding down in the early mornings after an all-nighter in the library killing us? Deaths in recent years linked to energy drinks raises these questions.

Reports claim that people have experienced unusual reactions after drinking Monster Energy Drink, whose label brags that it is the “meanest energy supplement on the planet.” The drink comes in 24-ounce cans and has 240 milligrams of caffeine- seven times the amount found in a 12-ounce soda.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating these allegations which date back to 2004. There is still no word whether these series of unfortunate events are directly correlated with the energy drink.

Just last week, 14-year-old Anais Fournier’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Monster Energy Drink,

claiming their daughter passed away of a heart attack last September after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster in a 24-hour time frame.“So far there’s been no causal link,” Shelly Burgess, spokeswoman of the FDA said. “There could have been other products involved. We don’t know that yet and that’s why we’re taking this seriously and looking into it.”

Monster said in its statement that it “does not believe that its products are in any way responsible for the death of Ms. Fournier.” The company also claims there is a warning on their cans stating that too much caffeine can be harmful.

In 2011, the Journal Pediatrics reviewed studies about energy drinks and its effects on children and teens. In this report the authors warned pediatricians that these energy drinks can be extra problematic for young adults with heart-problems, diabetes, and ADHD. Problems can include heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death.

Many high schools and high school sports teams have banned energy drinks as well as any caffeinated beverages because of the health problems that have arisen in recent years.

Doctors, however, assure their patients that caffeine affects all people differently and that the recent investigations being conducted by the FDA shout not deter them from consuming caffeinated beverages on a daily basis. Like sugar, and junk food if consumed in moderation it is perfectly safe.