Actress Dakota Johnson's experience with excessive caffeine intake during her directorial debut highlights a common misconception about energy drinks. Often confused with sports drinks or seen as a hydration option, energy drinks contain significant amounts of caffeine and stimulants that can lead to health issues.

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and wellness expert, clarifies that energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks, which are designed to replenish electrolytes lost during intense physical activity. Energy drinks, on the other hand, are stimulants that can cause rapid heartbeat, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

Consuming large quantities of caffeine can lead to caffeine intoxication, which is rare but can be life-threatening, causing cardiac arrest and severe symptoms like brain swelling and kidney failure. The FDA considers more than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily to be excessive for most adults, equivalent to four or five cups of coffee.

Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, with the American Academy of Pediatrics advising against energy drink consumption due to the risks of anxiety, hyperactivity, and health issues like heart disease and fatty liver disease. However, many teens still consume these drinks, sometimes available in school vending machines.

Dr. Wen advises against using energy drinks for sports activities, recommending water for hydration and sports drinks for electrolyte replacement when necessary. She also warns that individuals with heart problems, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, or chronic kidney issues should avoid energy drinks, as should those on certain medications that can interact with caffeine.

To combat fatigue and boost energy, Dr. Wen suggests addressing underlying health issues, improving sleep habits, adjusting diet, incorporating physical activity, and staying well-hydrated with water instead of relying on the quick but risky energy boost from energy drinks.