A SCHOOLBOY was admitted to hospital after energy drinks “eroded away” his stomach lining and left him “huddled over in pain”.
James McCann, now 23, started knocking back energy drinks at just 11 years old when he started secondary school in Northern Ireland.
James would guzzle four energy drinks per day which he would substitute for mealsSt. Joseph’s Boys’ High School
The lad said that “all his mates were drinking them [energy drinks]” at the time.
But for James, the habit escalated into a “nightmare”.
During his GSCEs, he would guzzle four cans a day, which he would substitute for meals.
James’ poor diet meant his weight plummeted to under six stone at age 18 – the average weight for a boy that age in the UK is 10.5 stone.
The teen ended up being hospitalised with gastritis – which doctors blamed on his energy drink consumption and poor eating habits.
“With the stress of exams, you know, I was just pumping these energy drinks into myself and actually got admitted to hospital,” James told Sky News.
“It turned out I had a condition called gastritis, which was basically the lining within your stomach had been eroded away.
“I’d get incredible cramps, huddled over in pain,” he added.
He would also vomit uncontrollably.
People don’t understand how easy it is to get addicted
James McCann
“These pains would last for at least 20 minutes and could happen at any time. I’m not usually a person to be crying.
“But these pains certainly had me crying for it to stop the pain,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
To make matters worse, the high caffeine levels in the drinks meant the teen struggled to sleep.
He was admitted to hospital in December 2017, where he stayed for a week and returned several times.
Doctors decided to put him on special high calories drinks to help him put on some weight.
James was so unwell at the point that he was forced to drop out of college.
Now, he has cut the drinks out altogether and has since graduated with a degree in business from Liverpool John Moores University.
He is warning other young people about his experience.
“People don’t understand how easy it is to get addicted.
“Never mind what sort of stuff they’re putting in their body and the effects it can have on them,” he explained.
Side effects
It comes as a ban on the sale of energy drinks to under-16s is being considered by the Labour Party if it wins, as concern grows about health risks to young people from high-caffeine products.
A government-commissioned study reported that up to a third of UK children consume at least one energy drink each week.
A daily caffeine intake of up to 400mg is recommended for adults, but little research exists on tolerable amounts for teens and children.
However, typical cans contain more than a child’s daily added sugar limit recommended by the NHS (19-24g per day, depending on age).
New research published in the Public Health Journal found children and young people who guzzle energy drinks are more at risk of poor academic performance and suicidal thoughts.
It also raises the odds sleep issues, anxiety, depression and unhealthy food habits.
It added to a growing body of research which suggests caffeinated drinks can cause a string of health problems for children, including head and stomach aches to being a ‘gateway’ to booze.
Ministers proposed to ban energy drink sales to under 16s in 2019, but are yet to implement it.
However, many UK shops refuse to allow young people to buy the beverages, and will ID at the point of purchase if someone appears under 16.
What drinking an energy drink does to your body hour-by-hour
DATA from gift site Personalise reveals what happens to your body, hour-by-hour, after you finish a can, and even 12 days later.
The timeline was created using information from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and energy drink manufacturer Red Bull.
First 10 minutes
This is the time the caffeine begins to enter the bloodstream, causing your heart rate and blood pressure to rise.
Previous research has looked at the impact of energy drinks on the blood pressure and hearts of young people.
One small study found that people who drank 32 ounces (1L) of energy drinks in an hour had abnormal electrical activity in their hearts and higher blood pressure four hours later.
15-45 minutes
The time caffeine level peaks, making you feel alert and improving concentration abilty.
The caffeine concetration in energy drinks ranges from 80mg (Red Bull) to 150mg (PRIME) per serving.
It is generally recommended to have no more than 400mg of caffeine per day.
30-50 minutes
By now, all of the caffeine has been absorbed and your liver will often react by absorbing more sugar.
One hour
This is when you are likely to experience the typical “sugar crash” – which is when your blood sugar and caffeine level drops – and you may feel tired.
Five-six hours
Roughly five to six hours after consumption your body will have reduced the caffeine content in your bloodstream by 50 per cent.
12 hours
Around 12 hours after finishing your energy drink, the caffeine will have been pupped out of most people’s bloodstreams, but it does vary due to age and activity.
12-24 hours
If you have been drinking energy drinks regularly, between 12 and 24 hours is the time when you’ll start to feel withdrawal symptoms.
Seven-12 days
Studies have shown this is the time it takes the body to become tolerant of your daily caffeine dosage.
This means if you keep the level the same, you are unlikely to feel any effects at this point.