How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
A new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found energy drink-related emergency room visits have doubled between 2007 and 2011. (Visits increased nearly tenfold if you look back to 2005.)
The symptoms of "energy drink-related" conditions are largely connected to the caffeine in energy drinks -- insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, headaches and irregular heartbeat. Excess consumption can also result in heart attacks and seizures.
Crazy Juice
Speculations for the uptick include the increase of energy drinks on the market as well as the growing popularity with younger adults. Those most admitted for energy drink-related conditions are 18-25-year-old men.
However, The Atlantic's James Hamblin is quick to point out that caffeine in energy drinks isn't always dramatically higher than in coffee beverages.
He adds that energy drinks may not be entirely to blame for the increased E.R. visits. Instead, it's "bullheaded" actions bolstered by caffeine consumption that can result in hospitalization.