A man documented the terrifying effects of guzzling down a dozen energy drinks within a span of 10 minutes.
The story has once again ignited conversations about the potential dangers of excessive energy drink consumption, a debate that has been ongoing for over two decades, with brands like Red Bull and Monster gaining immense popularity worldwide.
Energy drinks, laced with caffeine and taurine, have become an all-too-familiar remedy for many fatigued adults and weary students. Yet, these beverages carry a risk similar to substances like alcohol and cigarettes, sparking numerous warnings and precautions.
In an effort to curb these risks, the UK has even imposed a ban on selling energy drinks to children under the age of 16.
Clinical pharmacist and renowned YouTuber, Dr. Bernard Hsu, narrates the alarming ordeal of a video gamer who gulped down 12 energy drinks in a mere 10 minutes as a stunt to amuse his coworkers. On his YouTube channel, Chubbyemu, with a whopping 2.6 million subscribers, Dr. Hsu recounts such incidents involving patients he or his colleagues have treated.
"A man drank 12 energy drinks in 10 minutes. This is what happened to his organs," Dr. Hsu divulges in the video.
The gamer, a 36-year-old male known as "JS", suffered severe consequences from his reckless decision. Dr. Hsu recounts that JS was rushed to the ER the next day, afflicted with "breakthrough abdominal pain." The gamer was incapable of retaining any food or water, and his breathing had become strained.
Dr. Hsu explains that JS had ingested more than 1lb of sugar in just 10 minutes, resulting in the onset of acute pancreatitis. Shockingly, according to the New York Post, JS's pancreas had started "digesting itself."
The gamer, a 36-year-old male known as "JS", suffered severe consequences from his reckless decision. Credit: Jack Taylor / Getty
The situation escalated when the fluid accumulated in JS's pancreas became infected, in turn contaminating his blood. The gamer's kidneys and liver began to fail, increasing the severity of the situation. Doctors intervened by administering IV fluids and antibiotics, which thankfully proved successful, leading to JS's eventual discharge.
However, Dr. Hsu takes the opportunity to emphasize that while occasional consumption of an energy drink is unlikely to cause harm, binge drinking them may lead to dire consequences.
"If you start chugging multiple cans back-to-back, then bad things are probably going to happen", warns Dr. Hsu. He points out that apart from causing your heart to race and making you jittery, energy drinks could potentially lead to conditions like pancreatitis.
The harrowing ordeal served as a "wake-up call" for JS, concludes Dr. Hsu, reminding viewers about the importance of moderate consumption when it comes to energy drinks.
