Following in the wake of recent energy drink related deaths, 5-hour energy is receiving national attention with its link to 13 deaths, and 30 life threatening incidents since 2008. According to records from the Food and Drug Administration, energy drinks such as Monster and 5-Hour Energy have been implicated in multiple cases of serious illness, and even death, over the past decade. With more reports of caffeine related illnesses making headlines daily, it is important that you remain informed and aware of the potential dangers of over consumption, especially with respect to caffeinated supplements such as 5-Hour Energy.
Caffeine, of course, will not kill someone on its own. Popular Science has determined that a caffeine related death would take over consumption on the level of six to twelve gallons of coffee a day, or five to ten milligrams of caffeine. Caffeine, however, is not the sole cause of deaths related to 5-Hour Energy. Pre-existing health conditions, especially those found in children and young adults, can cause increased sensitivity to caffeine and be the catalyst to a potentially life threatening condition. Over consumption of energy drinks and caffeine have been linked to heart attacks, convulsions, and spontaneous abortions, as reported by the New York Times. In one particular case, a fourteen year old drank two twenty-four ounce cans of a popular energy drink in a twenty-four hour period, which exacerbated an underlying heart condition, causing her to spend six days in a coma and eventually be pronounced brain dead.
On average there are 5,500 reported caffeine overdoses per year, with close to half of these cases occurring in children under the age of 19. The fact that this statistic can be directly linked to energy drink brands such as 5-Hour Energy is having a profound impact on the market, causing both parents and children to think twice before purchasing an energy drink at their local convenience store. With the cases of over consumption continuing to make national headlines, it is important to ensure that you are conscious of the substances they put in their body, especially when it comes to 5-Hour Energy. If you, or someone you know, has been effected as a result of consumption of an energy drink, please seek medical help, and legal consultation. Staying informed is the first step to staying healthy.
About the Editors: The Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, whose attorneys work out of offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, Eastern Shore Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service.
