A mother of two required emergency surgery for an infected kidney after consuming four cans of Red Bull weekly for seven months. Alison Dunn, 25, from Daytona Beach, Florida, claims doctors attributed her condition to the energy drinks and advised her to stop immediately.
The Onset of Pain
Dunn began drinking one 12oz can of Red Bull four days a week to combat early mornings at her warehouse job and the exhaustion of parenting. In March last year, she experienced a dull ache in her lower right side during her shift. The pain escalated rapidly, becoming excruciating and surpassing the intensity of childbirth, causing her to vomit in her car.
Medical Emergency
Rushed to the hospital, a CT scan revealed a 6.5mm kidney stone blocking her urethra and an enlarged, infected kidney. Surgeons performed laser lithotripsy to break the stone into smaller pieces. Dunn was discharged four days later and has since vowed to never consume energy drinks again.
Doctor's Warning
Dunn stated, 'The first thing my urologist asked was whether I drink energy drinks. They were confident that was the cause. He said I definitely need to stop.' She expressed shock as she regularly drank water and had no prior kidney issues. The infection could have spread to her blood if untreated.
Raising Awareness
Dunn urges others to be mindful of energy drink consumption. 'I didn't even know energy drinks could cause kidney stones. It was the worst pain of my life, worse than childbirth. If you get a daily Red Bull, just be mindful of your body because it will eventually catch up with you.'
Health Warnings
In the UK, Red Bull and similar drinks with over 150mg of caffeine per litre must display high caffeine content warnings. Red Bull has been contacted for comment.
