Overview
- A previously healthy UK man in his 50s arrived in hypertensive crisis at 254/150 mm Hg and imaging confirmed an ischemic stroke in the thalamus.
- Weeks of testing later revealed a habit of eight energy drinks per day, estimated at roughly 1,200–1,300 milligrams of caffeine versus guidance of about 400 milligrams for adults.
- After he stopped the beverages, his blood pressure normalized and doctors withdrew antihypertensive medications, though left‑sided sensory deficits persist eight years on.
- The authors note energy drinks can include taurine, guarana, ginseng and high sugar, with combinations that may elevate blood pressure more than caffeine alone and add hidden caffeine.
- Clinicians are advised to ask about energy‑drink use in early stroke or unexplained hypertension, and the authors suggest exploring tighter sales and advertising rules given limited but concerning evidence.