A 20-year-old gym enthusiast, Jazmin Garza, faced a life-threatening situation after consuming an energy drink and experiencing cardiac arrest during a workout. In late November, while exercising alongside her boyfriend, Isaac Ayala, Jazmin began to feel dizzy and light-headed. She sat down, having consumed only a third of a Ghost energy drink, when she suddenly collapsed and had a seizure.

Isaac found her unresponsive, with no heartbeat or breath, and immediately performed CPR until paramedics arrived and revived her. Jazmin, visiting Iowa from Texas, was informed that her heart had stopped multiple times, once for five minutes, cutting off oxygen to her brain and organs, causing severe damage. She was placed on life support for recovery.

Doctors warned her family of her slim chances of recovery. Despite exhaustive tests, the cause of her cardiac arrests remained elusive. Jazmin believes an undiagnosed heart condition, exacerbated by the energy drink, may have triggered the episode.

While Ghost energy drink contains 200mg of caffeine and is marketed to adults, it’s unclear if it was the primary cause of Jazmin’s health crisis. Experts suggest energy drinks may disrupt heart rhythms, especially in people with existing heart conditions, leading to severe outcomes.

Jazmin underwent several medical procedures, including the insertion of a defibrillator, to prevent future episodes. Despite the ordeal, she recovered after two weeks in the hospital and returned home, burdened with significant medical bills and job losses.

This harrowing experience has given Jazmin a renewed perspective on life, urging others to heed their body’s warnings and seek medical advice for any concerns, potentially averting similar crises in the future.