The dangers of drinking coffee and energy drinks at the same time

Both coffee and energy drinks can both increase your stamina. However, don't get to the wrong conclusion. If coffee and energy drinks are drunk together, there are actually bad effects that bring harm to the body.

Coffee is known for its caffeine content, as are energy drinks. It's just that, both of them have different caffeine content. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one cup of coffee contains about 100 to 200 mg of caffeine. While energy drinks can exceed 200 mg per serving.

After an hour of drinking coffee or energy drinks, your caffeine levels will spike and last for 4-6 hours. If consumed properly, caffeine can increase alertness. Conversely, drinking coffee and energy drinks at the same time will cause harm.

Well, drinking both at once, increases caffeine intake in the body. Instead of providing benefits, caffeine overdose is what happens. The mild effects of this condition are palpitations, tremors, agitation, heartburn, and diarrhea.

In more serious cases, a caffeine overdose can be life threatening. One of them happened to Davis Cripe, a student at South Carolina School.

He died of heart failure 2 hours after drinking latte from fast food restaurants and energy drinks.

The forensic team stated that the student had excess caffeine, causing heart arrhythmias (heart stops beating).

A study published in International Journal of Health Sciences reported energy drinks contain substances that are ergogenic — increase a person's stamina. The effect of this substance can affect the performance of the heart.

If coffee and energy drinks are drunk together, the body will feel a greater ergogenic effect. As a result, the heart rate will increase and the blood pressure in the arteries will increase.

Another effect of drinking coffee and energy drinks at the same time

Apart from causing heart arrhythmias, the dangers of drinking coffee and energy drinks at the same time include:

Cardiac ischemia (narrowing of the heart arteries)
Seizures and hallucinations
Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis)

When this condition occurs, there is no specific antidote that can treat excess caffeine. However, the doctor will give you drugs to reduce symptoms, such as benzodiazepines for seizures, and beta blockers or antiarrhythmics to treat cardiac dysfunction.

What is a safe intake of caffeine?

So that the dangers of drinking coffee and energy drinks can be avoided at the same time, you need to know the safe limits of caffeine that enter the body.

Within a day, 400 mg of caffeine is safe for most healthy adults. If estimated, this is the equivalent of 3 to 4 cups of coffee, 10 cans of soda, or 2 cans of energy drinks a day.

However, the measurements mentioned are not definite and fixed measurements. You should still read how much caffeine is in your drink. Also limit drinking coffee, chocolate, tea, energy drinks, and soda.

The reason is, various types of coffee, such as espresso , cappucino , latte , and other drinks have different caffeine content. Also avoid drinking caffeinated drinks with other substances, such as alcohol.