A 32-year-old is determined to share her story about the potential dangers of downing energy drinks after she began to have blackouts and was eventually fitted with a pacemaker at the age of 32.
While there is no standard definition of an “energy drink,” it can be defined as a non-alcoholic drink that contains caffeine, taurine (an amino acid) and vitamins, along with other ingredients.
The mother of three, who hails from Leicester, U.K., said that at her very worst — she was consuming up to six cans a day of caffeinated beverages.
“In 2014 I was drinking five or six a day until I had the pacemaker fitted in February 2018,” she told LeicesterLive.com.
She said how the drinks which used to make her stay awake during work — would cause her heart to beat faster and caused palpitations.
She would then crash and it was cause her to have another.
“It would give me headaches, I’d be grumpy, and I’d need another one to keep me going,” she shared with the news outlet. “I wouldn’t sleep and I had an overwhelming feeling of doom when trying to sleep.”
She then eventually went to the doctor who diagnosed her with a blockage in her heart and she was then fitted for a pacemaker.
Additionally, it was discovered she suffered from kidney stones and was given a warning about developing diabetes with the amount of sugar she was consuming.
And while she says that her doctors could not point the blame at the energy drinks for her heart issues — she said she has not had any snaffoos since quitting the drinks cold turkey.
“I don’t black out anymore and I can’t feel my heart messing up anymore,” she said. “My heart used to skip beats.”
Sharpe, who has to return to the doctor every six months, said she wants to share her story as a cautionary tale for others.
And if you are wondering which energy drinks, if any at all, are healthy — you are not alone.
A new review by the World Healthy Organization (WHO) — which reviews the literature on the associated health risks and policies related to energy drinks — recently reviewed the benefits and risk associated with energy drinks.
The review was born out of the scientific community along with the general public questioning the health effects of such drinks.
These researchers described quite a number of potential health risks — almost which are associated with the high caffeine content of the drinks as well as when they are mixed with alcohol.
They also discovered that the policy regarding energy drinks is limited and encourage more long-term research as well as policy action to minimize the risk of harm from both heavy and long-term energy drink consumption.
“Energy drinks could cause public health problems, says WHO study,” according to The Guardian reports.
When these drinks are mixed with alcohol, the harm can be even worse.
Energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster contain very high levels of caffeine — a stimulant.
And over the last 20 years, these drinks have become increasingly popular with young people, with many clubbers mixing them with alcohol.
NOW WATCH: Sweden Actually Turns It’s Garbage Into Energy | Save The World