UNMASKING ENERGY DRINKS: THE DARK SIDE BEHIND THE CAFFEINE HIGH

IN TODAY’S fast paced world, energy drinks have surged in popularity, par- ticularly among young adults and ado- lescents chasing an edge in stamina and alertness.

- ALYSSIA BIRJALAL

Yet, beneath the vibrant branding and eye-catching packaging lies a stark reality: these beverages may hold sig- nificant health risks.

Recently, a Heart FM presenter spoke to a 17-year-old listener who stated that his doctor believed his recent heart attack was due to the con- sumption of energy drinks.

The teenager, who was having a haircut when the heart attack occurred, said that when he went to the hospital, his doctor ran a variety of tests.

“After so much examination and inspection and thorough surveys done, I've been put on ECGs and everything .. The doctors initially thought that I had epilepsy ... It turns out that my heart has been the main organ that's been affected.

“They asked me questions like what's my diet, what do you drink, what do you eat, do you sleep much, are you busy with physical activities, so I explained everything to my doctor.

“And he asked me: ‘Do you drink energy drinks?’ I told him, yes, and he looked at me with his face like: “Why didn’t you tell us this in the first place?”

The Facebook video clip has since garnered close to 500k views and has opened up a conversation surrounding the health risks of drinking energy drinks.