شاب عمره ٢٠ سنة، طالب في فترة اختبارات، يشرب ٤ علب مشروبات طاقة يومياً وينام ٤ ساعات. جاء بخفقان وقلق ورعشة، والنبض ١٢٨ منتظم، والضغط ١٣٨/٨٤، والتخطيط يظهر تسرعاً جيبياً فقط. أي نصيحة صحيحة؟

A 20-year-old student during exams drinks 4 cans of energy drinks a day and sleeps 4 hours. He presents with palpitations, anxiety and tremor; HR 128 regular, BP 138/84, and the ECG shows sinus tachycardia only. Which advice is correct?

1. Cut down caffeine and stimulants gradually and have the rhythm checked
2. Mix them with alcohol to calm the palpitations and anxiety
3. Gradually increase the amount because the body adapts
4. Switch to caffeine tablets because they are purer and milder

Answer: A) Cut down caffeine and stimulants gradually and have the rhythm checked. High doses of caffeine and stimulants in energy drinks can cause tachycardia, arrhythmias and hypertension. Gradual reduction limits withdrawal, and the rhythm is assessed with an ECG.