Too much caffeine caused
the death of a 16-year-old high school student from South Carolina who
collapsed during class last month, according to the county coroner.
Davis Allen Cripe died from a caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a
probable arrhythmia. During an arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm, the
heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body, and lack of
blood flow affects the brain, heart and other organs. The teen consumed
three caffeine-laced drinks -- a cafe latte, large Diet Mountain Dew and
an energy drink -- in a two-hour period before collapsing in his
classroom at Spring Hill High School on April 26, Watts said. (Source:
CNN) So where does this tragic news leave adult java lovers?
How much caffeine can I drink a day?
"Most people can safely take in about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily or about 4 cups of coffee," says Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O., a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine. He
adds that, “the limit varies from person to person.” It’s difficult to
assign an exact amount for everyone because people can have different
sensitivities or reactions to caffeine based on age, medical history,
and tolerance. However, there is enough research available to make a
recommendation based on an individual’s weight.
To keep it safe, health
experts recommend a maximum daily dose of 400 mg. To see what this means
for you, check out the caffeine in some of these common drinks:
Starbucks Coffee (16 fl oz): 320 mg caffeine
5-hour energy (1.93 fl oz): 207 mg caffeine
Dunkin Donuts regular (16 fl oz): 203 mg caffeine
Starbucks Latte (16 fl oz): 150 mg caffeine
Coffee, brewed (8 fl oz): 133 mg caffeine
Red Bull Energy Shot (2 fl oz): 80 mg caffeine
Red Bull (8 fl oz): 80 mg caffeine
Tea (8 fl oz): 53 mg caffeine
But how, exactly, can the world's most popular drug kill?
Like other stimulants,
caffeine raises blood pressure, boosts heart rate and temporarily
shrinks blood vessels. Dr. Calapai explains that, “In excess, the
effects can be deadly by causing a heart attack, stroke or other
cardio-vascular-related problem. Researchers think daily caffeine intake
can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, but the results so far
have been inconclusive.”
It’s also important to
realize that medical conditions can affect sensitivity to caffeine. “If
you have anxiety, panic disorder, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure,
diabetes, take medication or have any sort of medical condition, then
you may tolerate less caffeine and should speak to a doctor,” says Dr.
Calapai.
There are “caffeine overdose symptoms” that are important to watch for. These include:
Jitters, Restlessness, and Nervousness
Increased heartbeat
Nausea
Anxiety
Heart palpitations (cardiac arrhythmia)
Insomnia
Sweating
Dizziness
Vomiting
Cardiac arrest
Dr. Christopher Calapai,
D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine,
and anti-aging medicine. Proclaimed as the "The Stem Cell Guru" by the
New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell
therapy in the U.S. His stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable
results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as
Alzheimer's, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart,
kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinson's. He has worked with
Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Fox series Gotham's, Donal
Logue; he was a medical consultant for the New York Rangers. Connect
with him via twitter @drcalapai or at www.drcal.net
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