Myocardial infarction in an 18-year-old man that developed after taking energy drinks

In the Russian Federation, energy drinks continue to grow in popularity. These products are widely advertised and have no age restrictions. Adolescents and young adults experiencing increased psycho-emotional and professional stress actively consume beverages that enhance performance due to their high caffeine content, as well as guarana, taurine, ginseng, and sugar. The dose-dependent adverse effects of consuming caffeine-containing beverages are well-known, including tachycardia, headache, anxiety, and palpitations, and are linked to high caffeine doses. However, there have been reported cases of life-threatening cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction in young individuals who consume large quantities of energy drinks. In the absence of traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction may be associated with the negative effects of energy drinks on endothelial function and platelet hemostasis, leading to a state of hypercoagulation and thrombotic occlusion of the coronary arteries, as well as coronary vasospasm. The article presents a clinical case of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in an 18-year-old man with a history of prolonged energy drink abuse in the absence of other risk factors. Clinical and instrumental examination revealed a primary Q-wave anterior extensive myocardial infarction related to coronary artery spasm. Conservative treatment was administered, and clinical symptoms of ischemia did not recur. During dynamic follow-up, a moderate reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction persisted. The onset of angina after energy drink consumption requires the exclusion of acute coronary syndrome. Given the accumulating evidence of an association between coronary events and excessive energy drink consumption, it is necessary to draw the attention of both healthcare professionals and the general public to the potential risks, recommending limited consumption of these products.

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