A 28-year-old woman from Florida, who frequently consumed energy drinks and caffeine supplements to boost her workouts, tragically died after suffering a heart attack. Her mother is now speaking out, calling energy drinks “harmful and deadly” in hopes of preventing further tragedies.
Katie Donnell, a dedicated teacher and fitness enthusiast, reportedly consumed up to three energy drinks a day along with coffee, and would take caffeine supplements before hitting the gym. Her mother, Lori Barranon, shared with The Daily Mail that Katie believed these beverages helped her power through her busy lifestyle, which included working full-time, studying, and exercising. “She thought it’d help her work out and give her more energy. She was working out, working full-time, and going to school,” Barranon explained. “I think she got used to the buzz.”
In August 2021, Donnell collapsed while spending time with friends. Initially, they suspected she was having a stroke, but it was later determined that she was actually experiencing a heart attack. Barranon said, “The ambulance got there and couldn’t intubate her. She was without oxygen for too long and it caused brain damage. They worked on her for three hours, and she never woke up.”
Donnell was placed in a medically induced coma, but after ten days, her condition worsened, and doctors determined that her body was failing. Her family made the heart-wrenching decision to disconnect her from life support.
Barranon explained that doctors initially suspected Donnell may have been drugged, as it is rare for someone so young to die from a heart attack. However, the truth about Donnell’s energy drink consumption only became clear after her death. Her boyfriend revealed that she regularly bought a four-pack of energy drinks every two to three days, in addition to her daily coffee intake. Barranon added that friends recalled seeing Donnell with an energy drink almost constantly. “When I cleaned out her car after she passed, it was full of cans—at least three or four in there,” Barranon said.
Caffeine is known to affect the heart, with the National Library of Medicine stating that it can raise blood pressure, stressing the cardiovascular system, and increasing the risk of arrhythmias. While the specific brand of energy drink Donnell consumed was not disclosed, some energy drinks contain up to 200 mg of caffeine per can, and the Mayo Clinic advises a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day as generally safe.
Donnell’s mother remembers her as the “epitome of health,” noting that she ate clean, organic food and maintained an active lifestyle. However, Barranon also revealed that her daughter struggled with severe anxiety, which she believes was exacerbated by her caffeine consumption. “I know for a fact that was what was wrong with her,” Barranon said.
Now, Barranon is sharing her story to raise awareness about the risks of energy drinks, which she believes should be banned. “If you don’t keep your kids away from this stuff, you may be in my situation where your life is ruined,” she warned. “It’s so harmful and deadly, my whole family is affected by this. I beg people to counsel your kids and watch what they’re doing. I thought I was.”
Barranon hopes her daughter’s death serves as a cautionary tale for others, urging people to think twice before consuming energy drinks. “I tell everybody I see with energy drinks that this is what it can do in the blink of an eye,” she added.
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