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If you're more than a little partial to an energy drink or two, you're probably well used to hearing people tell you that you'd better off cutting down on the habit.

But if you've always found that a quick can has helped with the mid-afternoon slump, the thoughts of powering through without a caffeine hit can seem as stressful as enduring an entire Honey G concert.

Acknowledging this reliance, researcher, Erwin Johnson, has produced a break-down of our body's reaction to the consumption of an energy drink – from the first ten minutes to 24 hours later.

Within 10 minutes of chugging your can, caffeine will enter your bloodstream causing your heart rate and blood pressure to rise.

Within 45 minutes, your concentration levels will improve as caffeine levels peak, and by the hour mark, your body will have absorbed all the caffeine and your liver will then absorb the sugar.

And then come the pitfalls.

Within one hour of consumption, your body will experience a sugar crash leaving you feeling tired and lethargic.

Six hours after consuming the drink, your body will have reduced the caffeine level by just half while the following six hours will be focussed on eradicating the other half.

If you choose not to consume another drink within a 24-hour period, you will begin to experience withdrawals including headaches, constipation and irritability.

Commenting on the research, nutritionist Ella Allred explained: "Energy drinks are a bad way to get caffeine. Many people drink energy drinks every day to help them survive busy week."

"However, relying on those drinks, push our bodies to the limit," she told the Daily Star. "We still need to sleep and eat properly, but if we won’t do it on time and ignore our needs, most likely we will crash later on."

Taking issue with the criticism, Gavin Partington, British Soft Drinks Association Director General reminded the public that a reliance on energy drinks is no different to a reliance on coffee,

"In fact, this year the European Food Safety Authority reaffirmed the safety of energy drinks and their ingredients." he said. "It’s worth remembering that a 250 ml can of energy drinks contains the same amount of caffeine as a typical cup of coffee."

Irritability and constipation or falling asleep and drooling on your employer's lap – oh, what a time to be alive.

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Most people are guilty of indulging in an energy drink now and again: the ultimate pick-me-up when you’re tired and can’t face another coffee.

Others more regularly knock back the caffeine stimulant – though few people could claim that they get through an astonishing 7litres A DAY.

However, that is exactly the quantity consumed by one mother-of-three from Newtownabbey in Co. Antrim.

Shockingly, Lena Lupari consumed so many calories as a result of her Red Bull habit that her weight now hovers around the 26st mark.

Even more serious – doctors also believe her brain has swollen and she risks going blind.

She first sought medical attention in June when she collapsed suddenly.

Doctors then discovered she had developed a condition known as Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), which they said was a result of her being overweight. 

Ms Lupari told Mail Online: “I used to drink 28 cans of Red Bull in a day and I'd only have a meal at night but it would usually be something fast-food like a takeaway or a packet of pasta.

“I've got three young children, one with special needs, and didn't have time to make anything. 

“I'd been suffering from migraines and headaches for about five years but I just ignored them and took painkillers.

“Then my vision went and I couldn't even lift my head off the bed and I ended up in hospital for six days.”

Specialists have now told Lena to lose seven stone – 30 percent of her body weight – and since cutting Red Bull from her diet entirely, she reports that she’s already shed two stone.

Intracranial hypertension (IH) refers to abnormally high pressure inside the skull and is quite rare, although it usually affects people who are overweight and obese.

The most common symptoms are severe throbbing headaches and changes in vision due to swollen optic nerves.  

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