It has been recently shown that energy drinks such as Rockstar, Monster and RedBull (my personal favorite) as well as energy supplements such as 5-Hour Energy, which are notorious for keeping people awake, may actually be hazardous to your health. These products contain up to and exceeding 500 milligrams of caffeine, which is approximately seven (7) times the amount you would find in a Coke or Pepsi. These are popular products sold here in Canton, GA.
These products are popular with many folks not just since they taste good but because they can keep us awake when we have deadlines such as driving a truck for a living, getting ready for an exam, and partiers who want to club-hop until dawn. Even to the point where we have seen the rise in the ever most popular mixture of these drinks with alcohol in clubs, bars, and restaurants.
It is important to note, however, that a recent report by the Food and Drug Administration (i.e. the FDA) has suggested that the buzz associated with drinking these popular products could come a severe health cost. According to the FDA, the use of Monster, for example, and 5-Hour Energy may be connected to 166 health incidents, including 18 deaths, since 2004. We are talking about deaths, not just nausea, nervousness, lack of sleep, lack of performance after the caffeine wheres off, but death!
A majority of these incidents involved increased heart rates, which we all know can be a catalyst for disaster in many folks, headaches, changes in blood press, nausea as mentioned before, and dizziness. More than half of these incidents reported were considered serious or life-threatening, requiring emergency hospitalization, and, as mentioned earlier, death. As a result, the FDA is investigating whether energy products pose a threat to teenagers as well as people with preexisting medical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, hyperactivity, and the like.
Currently, many energy products are sold as “dietary supplements” as well instead of food items. As we have learned, dietary supplements are subject to a much more lenient set of regulations; for instance, many dietary supplements don’t have to receive FDA approval before being put on the market. Consequently, and as a result of the FDA reports, some members of congress are now calling for these products to be reclassified.
At Julie A. Rice, Attorney at Law, & Affiliates, we are experts at product liability cases as well as medical malpractice cases so if you or a loved one have suffered any severe medical conditions that you think might be the result of energy products or if feel that you or a loved one was misdiagnosed by a medical professional from a severe reaction to an energy product, then please kindly feel free to contact us at any time at any of the following phone numbers: (770) 865-8654 and (813) 363-6664. We are available 24/7, your first initial telephone consultation is always free, and we are here to assist you, or Contact Us on our website.
So, next time you think you need that energy drink to stay awake for a long road trip, a looming test or assignment, or to go out and party all night, please kindly think of the possible dangers to your health. You are an important person and we don’t want anything to happen to you to compromise your health! Take care, and please feel free to call us if you need legal assistance. We look forward to hearing from you anytime. Thank you ~ Julie A. Rice, Attorney at Law, & Affiliates.