Could Caffeine Overdoses Be On The Rise in Illinois?

I'll be the first to confess how much I love coffee. The flavor and smell are so comforting; sometimes I need the morning latte to wake me up.

However, recently I've been concerned about my amount of caffeine intake and am now trying to limit it. I'm still struggling with the sluggishness and headaches from cutting it out, but it's been a game-changer for me getting some better sleep at night.

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One Illinois basketball player's story sparked my concern about my own caffeine intake. I knew that there was such a thing as too much caffeine, but I had no idea about caffeine poisoning/overdose.

Caffeine Poisoning/Overdose in The State of Illinois

While there isn't much data on caffeine-related overdose cases, this quote from Science Direct might be a bit of a wake-up call.

In 2017, the American Association of Posion Control Centers reported 3,765 cases of caffeine overdose... An ingestion of 5g is likely to prove fatal.

 

The FDA states that 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is the safest, so from here on out that's my golden number!

But if you think it's not a big deal to consume too much caffeine, check the story I found about a basketball player in our state.

Illinois Basketball Player Suffers From Caffeine Overdose

Matthew Mayer, an Illini men's basketball player, suffered from a severe caffeine overdose after consuming six Monster Energy Drinks.

To put into perspective, one can has 160 mg of caffeine. Six cans would equal 960 mg, which is over double what the FDA recommends.

Take a look at what he and an Illinois cardiologist had to say about the situation.

Despite being something most of us consume daily, it still can be dangerous if we don't limit consumption. Be safe everyone!