A black killer? Is a caffeine overdose possible? (5 photos)
People have different attitudes toward coffee. Some can't even stand the smell of this drink, others would love to indulge in another cup but can't due to medical contraindications, and some drink it a couple of times a day without developing a serious addiction. But there are also true fans of this aromatic beverage, drinking several cups a day. Is it possible to overdo it and cause a life-threatening coffee overdose? 
Coffee has been familiar to humans for a long time, so scientists have studied this drink thoroughly. A teaspoon of pure caffeine is a safe dose for a healthy adult with no contraindications. Is that a lot or a little? This amount of the active substance is contained in 28 cups of coffee, which, theoretically, can be consumed in a day without any adverse effects. 
However, drinking more coffee per day is risky. It can not only negatively impact your well-being but also lead to serious consequences, including death. But is such an overdose possible? Yes, cases of exceeding the recommended dose, although rare, have been reported.
Relatively recently, a 26-year-old woman was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the UK with a blood caffeine concentration of 147.1 mg/L. A lethal dose is considered to be 80 mg/L, so doctors had to fight to save the coffee lover's life. The patient had an abnormally high pulse rate, was constantly vomiting, and had difficulty breathing. 
She had to be placed on a ventilator and given an intravenous acid-base balance medication. The British woman spent a whole week in a hospital ward under close observation, but everything ended well.
Dangerous Dose of Caffeine
The scientific journal BMJ Case Reports published information about caffeine provided by doctors. It follows that 1-2 grams of pure caffeine can have a negative effect on a person, causing nausea, dizziness, and increased heart rate. Five grams is an amount capable of causing death. 
The Albion resident, who was saved by doctors, consumed about 20 grams, so without urgent medical intervention, her chances of survival were very low. Consuming so much caffeine in a drink is very difficult, but for avid coffee drinkers, as we can see, nothing is impossible.
Therefore, doctors strongly advise self-control and not drinking strong coffee by the liter. If you feel unwell after drinking the beverage, which can happen even after just 1-2 cups, it's best to quit drinking coffee for the day. Even better, visit a doctor after this "wake-up call" and find out what's wrong with your body, which reacted negatively to a normal dose of caffeine. 
And remember that coffee isn't the only way to "wake up" in the morning or get energized during the workday. There are several safer options that have no contraindications.
