How Do Energy Drinks Effect Heart Pressure?
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Ingredients
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Energy drinks' main ingredients--sugar, caffeine and taurine, an amino acid--all pose health risks when consumed in excess. Newer product launches have attempted to promote healthier versions which include no sugar or reduced sugar. They include B vitamins and antioxidants, claiming to improve energy use in the body, enhance memory and reduce fatigue. Despite their ingredient modifications, good health is hard to find in a can of energy drink.
Incidence of Death
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Energy drinks have been implicated for causing or contributing to deaths in many countries. In Britain, a 21-year-old died on a nightclub floor after downing four cans of an energy drink mixed with alcohol. The coroner reported that the drink may have triggered QT syndrome, a rare heart condition. In Australia, a 28-year-old male died of a heart attack after drinking seven cans of energy drink and then participating in a motorcycle race. A student in Ireland died after sharing four cans with friends. Some countries have actually banned the consumption of energy drinks due to their potentially unhealthy side effects.
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Research
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Australian medical researchers from the Cardiovascular Research Centre completed a study in 2008 on 30 young adults one hour before and one hour after drinking an energy drink. They concluded that one hour following, the blood viscosity became thicker, a condition similar in nature to individuals with cardiovascular problems such as stroke. Scott Willoughby, the lead researcher, stated that the effects of energy drinks when combined with high stress or high blood pressure could negatively impact the proper function of blood vessels, increasing the risk of clotting.
Wayne State University researchers completed a study in 2007 on healthy adults who consumed two cans of a popular energy drink daily. They concluded that individuals with hypertension and heart disease should avoid consuming these types of beverages. The study showed that healthy adults experienced increases in blood pressure and heart rate following consumption. The participants were at rest, sitting in chairs or watching a movie. While the increase was not significant for healthy people, it could pose health risks for those with heart-related concerns
Prevalence
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Many individuals use energy drinks to fuel exercise or mix them with alcohol and drink them while dancing at nightclubs. Both practices have the potential to put extra stress on the heart due to the physical exertion caused by sports and dancing. Blood pressure and heart rate naturally go up during physical activity. This is compounded by dehydration if caffeine is abused by the over consumption of energy drinks or by mixing them with alcohol. Symptoms of dehydration include confusion and dizziness, especially when standing, and increased heart rate as the body tries to adapt to the loss of fluid. Each of these symptoms may be confused with alcohol intoxication and left untreated as a result.
Sports Drinks
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Energy drinks should not be confused with sports drinks. Sports drinks are safe when used correctly and contain electrolytes to replace the minerals lost through sweat and carbohydrates for endurance. Their consumption is highly encouraged in activities lasting greater than an hour or when the heat and humidity factor in shorter events necessitates their use. In athletic events that last less than one hour, water is still the fluid of choice.
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