People who know me are aware that there were always 2-3 empty Red Bull cans on my desk.

As a freelance web designer, I would have one can while working on layouts all night, and another can while working on responsive frames at 3 AM.

On average, I would consume 3-4 cans a day, and at times, I would drink 5-6 cans.

People around me called me a "red bull junkie," and honestly, I didn't mind that nickname.

I was under the illusion that my growing caffeine tolerance was proof of my stamina.

But then I turned 40. And my body started sending me warnings.

Freelancers don't have a 9 to 6 schedule. If client feedback comes in at 8 PM, that's when work begins.

Plus, I'm someone who can't put down a game.

After work, saying "just one more game" often leads to 4 AM, and my meeting is at 10 AM the next day.

To keep this cycle going? Red Bull was my go-to. One can would boost my focus within 30 minutes.

My eyes would widen, my hands would move faster, and whether it was coding, designing, or gaming, I felt a noticeable difference in performance.

At least, that's what I believed for over a decade.

Starting last year, strange symptoms began. After my second can of Red Bull, my heart would race abnormally fast.

It wasn't just a flutter; it felt like my heart was pounding irregularly. At first, I ignored it, thinking, "Maybe I'm just not feeling well."

Then one early morning, while gaming, I suddenly felt nauseous.

My stomach turned, I broke out in a cold sweat, and my heart raced like crazy. To be honest, it was scary.

At 3 AM, sitting alone in front of my monitor, I thought, "This could really be serious."

I found research indicating that excessive caffeine intake can lead to arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation and tachycardia.

Especially after 40, the cardiovascular system becomes much more sensitive to caffeine.

Drinking 6 cans in my 20s and being fine was just youth holding up, not safety.

It's been about 4 months since I quit. The first 2 weeks were pure hell with headaches and drowsiness.

I had no idea caffeine withdrawal could be this intense.

But after a month, my sleep quality improved, and I stopped feeling drowsy during the day.

I realized I wasn't forcing myself to stay awake with Red Bull; I was naturally alert because I was getting proper sleep.

My gaming skills? Honestly, there's no difference. If anything, my mental state has stabilized, reducing my tilt.

The same goes for work. By cutting down on late-night tasks and adjusting my schedule, the quality actually improved.

So, I'm not saying Red Bull is a bad drink.

If you're in your 20s or early 30s, having a can occasionally might be fine.

But if you're like me, drinking three or four cans a day for years, it's time to think seriously.

The heart of a 40-year-old is not the same as that of a 20-year-old. A drink that promises to give you wings could also stop your heart.

If you need performance, get some sleep. It may sound cliché, but it's the realization of someone who has relied on Red Bull for over a decade.