Can't go through one day without a cuppa? Here's a reason to slow down on caffeine
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Caffeine is a staple for many Aussies.
It comes in many forms, from morning tea, a mid-afternoon perk-up from coffee, or a cheeky bit of chocolate after dinner.
While many believe that caffeine is a harmless pick-me-up, a recent tragedy highlighted the very real dangers of consuming too much.
In April 2021, 32-year-old Christina Lackmann died alone in her apartment.
The aspiring cancer researcher succumbed after a fatal caffeine overdose.
Christina's story is a cautionary tale about the risks of excessive caffeine.
It should also be a sobering reminder of the cracks in Australia's emergency response systems.
Prior to her death, Christina called triple zero after experiencing severe symptoms.
She felt dizzy, light-headed, numb, and could not get up off the floor.
However, she did not mention to the emergency response team that she had taken caffeine tablets and did not explain what caused her symptoms.
Despite her distress, her call was classified as non-urgent and not considered an immediate emergency.
She was instructed to keep her phone line open for a callback.
Ambulance Victoria staff tried to call her back 14 times but received no response.
Her case was upgraded an hour later, but by then, two ambulances assigned to her were diverted to higher-priority emergencies.
Seven hours after her initial call, the paramedics finally reached her apartment.
Tragically, Christina had already passed away.
An email on Christina's phone revealed that she ordered caffeine tablets online, which had been delivered the same day she called for help.
Neither the tablets nor their packaging were found in her apartment.
Toxicology reports later confirmed that her blood had a dangerously high concentration of caffeine, which could not have been reached by solely drinking coffee.
Experts stated that caffeine overdoses could be deadly within eight hours of ingestion.
Clinical and forensic toxicologist Associate Professor Narendra Gunja explained that if Christina had been hospitalised immediately, she could have received life-saving treatment.
The question now is, how much caffeine is too much?
Most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine daily.
That's roughly the amount of caffeine found in four cups of brewed coffee.
However, caffeine tablets contain 100 mg to 200 mg of caffeine per pill, making it dangerously easy to exceed safe limits.
Symptoms of caffeine overdose include:
Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald was highly critical of the emergency response.
Coroner Fitzgerald stated that the seven-hour wait for an ambulance was 'unacceptable'.
On the night Christina died, more than 80 per cent of Ambulance Victoria's fleet was ramped, with paramedics stuck waiting to offload patients at overcrowded hospitals.
The emergency response crew were then unable to respond to new emergencies.
Ambulance Victoria has since reviewed its procedures and is working with the health department to reduce ramping and improve response times.
However, recent data showed that only 69.6 per cent of ambulance patients are being admitted to emergency departments within their 40-minute target.
Christina's death should be a heartbreaking reminder that everyday substances like caffeine can be dangerous if consumed in alarming amounts.
It also underscored the importance of clear communication during medical emergencies.
For those who rely on caffeine to get through the day, it's worth remembering that moderation is key.
Have you ever had a scary experience with caffeine or energy supplements? Are emergency services doing enough to keep up with demand? We would love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
May Christina Lackmann rest in peace.
MORE HERE: Experts warn about potential breakfast staple cost increase—time to adjust your habits?
It comes in many forms, from morning tea, a mid-afternoon perk-up from coffee, or a cheeky bit of chocolate after dinner.
While many believe that caffeine is a harmless pick-me-up, a recent tragedy highlighted the very real dangers of consuming too much.
In April 2021, 32-year-old Christina Lackmann died alone in her apartment.
The aspiring cancer researcher succumbed after a fatal caffeine overdose.
Christina's story is a cautionary tale about the risks of excessive caffeine.
It should also be a sobering reminder of the cracks in Australia's emergency response systems.
While coffee and tea have significant benefits , overdosing in caffeine can lead to consequences. Image Credit: Pexels/ Viktoria Alipatova
Prior to her death, Christina called triple zero after experiencing severe symptoms.
She felt dizzy, light-headed, numb, and could not get up off the floor.
However, she did not mention to the emergency response team that she had taken caffeine tablets and did not explain what caused her symptoms.
Despite her distress, her call was classified as non-urgent and not considered an immediate emergency.
She was instructed to keep her phone line open for a callback.
Ambulance Victoria staff tried to call her back 14 times but received no response.
Her case was upgraded an hour later, but by then, two ambulances assigned to her were diverted to higher-priority emergencies.
Seven hours after her initial call, the paramedics finally reached her apartment.
Tragically, Christina had already passed away.
An email on Christina's phone revealed that she ordered caffeine tablets online, which had been delivered the same day she called for help.
Neither the tablets nor their packaging were found in her apartment.
Toxicology reports later confirmed that her blood had a dangerously high concentration of caffeine, which could not have been reached by solely drinking coffee.
Experts stated that caffeine overdoses could be deadly within eight hours of ingestion.
Clinical and forensic toxicologist Associate Professor Narendra Gunja explained that if Christina had been hospitalised immediately, she could have received life-saving treatment.
The question now is, how much caffeine is too much?
Most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine daily.
That's roughly the amount of caffeine found in four cups of brewed coffee.
However, caffeine tablets contain 100 mg to 200 mg of caffeine per pill, making it dangerously easy to exceed safe limits.
Symptoms of caffeine overdose include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors or muscle twitching
- Confusion or agitation
- Dizziness and fainting
- In severe cases, seizures
Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald was highly critical of the emergency response.
Coroner Fitzgerald stated that the seven-hour wait for an ambulance was 'unacceptable'.
On the night Christina died, more than 80 per cent of Ambulance Victoria's fleet was ramped, with paramedics stuck waiting to offload patients at overcrowded hospitals.
The emergency response crew were then unable to respond to new emergencies.
Ambulance Victoria has since reviewed its procedures and is working with the health department to reduce ramping and improve response times.
However, recent data showed that only 69.6 per cent of ambulance patients are being admitted to emergency departments within their 40-minute target.
Christina's death should be a heartbreaking reminder that everyday substances like caffeine can be dangerous if consumed in alarming amounts.
It also underscored the importance of clear communication during medical emergencies.
For those who rely on caffeine to get through the day, it's worth remembering that moderation is key.
May Christina Lackmann rest in peace.
MORE HERE: Experts warn about potential breakfast staple cost increase—time to adjust your habits?
