Woman left fighting for her life in organ failure after 4 cardiac arrests moments after sipping drink loved by millions
A YOUNG woman almost died after drinking an energy drink during her workout.
Jazmin Garza was finishing her weighted deadlifts alongside her boyfriend Isaac Ayala on November 22, when she began feeling light-headed and dizzy.
The 20-year-old from Iowa, US had just downed a new caffeinated energy drink, which left her feeling unwell.
"Isaac said I looked really pale," she said.
Suddenly, Jazmin's nose began to bleed, and she collapsed to the floor, convulsing in a seizure.
Her 21-year-old boyfriend rushed over to find her heart had stopped beating and she was no longer breathing.
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"Isaac started doing CPR," Jazmin recalled.
"I think the longest my heart stopped was five minutes."
Jazmin went into cardiac arrest four times as paramedics worked to restart her heart, before rushing her to the hospital.
While she was there, doctors placed her on life support after her stomach and kidneys also "stopped working", Isaac said in a GoFundMe post.
"Her lungs and heart were also in really bad shape," he added.
Doctors "ran lots of tests" on her heart, which all came back "fine", Jazmin said.
"They couldn't see any issues with my heart or why it happened or what might have caused it," she added.
The gym-goer underwent surgery to have a defibrillator device fitted into her chest to prevent further emergency incidents.
After two weeks in hospital, Jazmin was discharged but continues to baffle doctors as to why her heart unexpectedly stopped.
She now believes the energy drink, in conjunction with an unknown heart condition, may have prompted the medical episode.
"Our best guess is that I've always had this but just never paid mind to it," Jazmin said.
"When I've had palpitations in the past, I've just thought it was anxiety or something.
She added: "I don't think the energy drink was the main cause.
"I think it was a contributory factor for everything to go wrong."
For now, the woman has sworn to "stay away" from energy drinks.
"You never really hear about a 20-year-old going into cardiac arrest, it just doesn't happen," she added.
After surviving the near-death experience, Jazmin said she has a renewed perspective on life.
"I feel like I've had a second chance and I want to do even better now," she said.
"If this had happened later on in life or if I was on my own, I might not have made it. Everything just went perfectly wrong." she added.
How to give CPR to an adult
A sudden cardiac arrest is the immediate loss of all heart activity.
It can occur due to an irregular heart rhythm or other heart disease but can strike unexpectedly, too.
Breathing stops and the person becomes unconscious, with the lack of oxygenated blood to their organs leading to death.
CPR can help pump blood around the body until specialist help arrives.
How to do it:
First, check for a response. Firmly shake the person’s shoulders and loudly ask if they’re okay.
Call 999. If the person is unconscious and not breathing, or not breathing normally, start CPR.
If there is someone with you, ask them to find a defibrillator [the 999 call handler will tell you where to find the nearest one].
Start chest compressions.
- With the heel of your hand in the centre of their chest, press down smoothly and firmly at a rate of two per second. Try pushing to the beat of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees.
Use a defibrillator as soon as you can. Follow its instructions carefully while you continue to give CPR.
Doctors told Jazmine her survival was "a miracle".
"I was really close to death at one point. I feel so grateful to be alive."
Jazmine is now calling for people to "listen" to their bodies.
"Get any concerns checked out because you might avoid something this big later on down the line," she said.
Isaac has launched a fundraising page to help cover any medical bills and aftercare Jazmin may need in the future.
Existing links between energy drinks and heart problems
Several existing studies have linked energy drinks to heart problems, including irregular heartbeats and cardiac arrest.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in the US looked at the medical data of 144 patients who had survived a cardiac arrest following emergency treatment.
Seven of them, aged between 20 and 42, had consumed an energy drink sometime before the life-threatening event, with six requiring electrical shock treatment and one needing manual resuscitation.
Three of the patients were regular energy drink consumers and four were revealed to have a type of genetic heart condition.
Researchers said that other factors surrounding the event, such as sleep deprivation, dehydration, dieting, extreme fasting, vaping and antibiotic medication, may have created a "perfect storm", leading to sudden cardiac arrest in these patients.
While the study, published in the Elsevier journal Heart Rhythm, did not prove a direct cause, the researchers still recommend consuming energy drinks in moderation.
Other risks
The risk associated with some energy drinks is linked to their high caffeine content.
While an average cup of coffee contains approximately 100mg of caffeine, energy drinks like Monster can contain up to 160mg.
A can of Red Bull contains 80mg.
Caffeine consumption triggers the release of hormones such as noradrenaline and norepinephrine, which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure.
Experts have also voiced concerns about other ingredients in energy drinks, such as taurine, which may have stimulant properties.
Although most individuals tolerate caffeine well, some may experience heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats.
Previous research found just one energy drink a month is enough to increase your risk of sleep problems.
And other studies have found that children and young people who guzzle energy drinks are at increased risk of suicidal thoughts.
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One also drew direct links between excessive consumption and the likelihood of experiencing severe health risks affecting the heart, nervous system, liver and kidneys.
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