Researchers Alert Consuming Energy Drinks Cause Heart Attack

A recent research declares consuming energy drinks may affect your health and cause a cardiac arrest. Energy drinks contain caffeine from 80mg to 300mg more than a cup of coffee.

What is an Energy Drink?

An energy drink is a beverage typically designed to give the consumer a burst of energy through a combination of stimulant ingredients such as caffeine, vitamins, amino acids, and sometimes herbal extracts. 

These drinks are marketed pretty well with the idea of providing consumers a mental alertness and physical stamina, to boost their energy quickly.

Research On Energy Drinks:

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in the US have alerted that consuming energy drink beverages with high amounts of caffeine and other provocative ingredients can lead to heart diseases.

The team did a survey, in this research, the researchers investigated 144 survivors of sudden cardiac arrest. Among this group, seven patients had consumed one or more energy drinks around the time of their cardiac event. 

The researchers also analyzed the specific cardiac conditions experienced by these patients and the circumstances surrounding the events. The research cannot prove that energy drink is the reason for heart disease yet earned consumers because of their ingredients.

Michael J. Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, stated, "Although the relative risk is small and the absolute risk of sudden death after consuming an energy drink is even smaller, patients with a known sudden death predisposing genetic heart disease should weigh the risks and benefits of consuming such drinks in the balance."

With his knowledge, he continued about the effects of energy drink, "While there seemed to be a temporal relationship between energy drink consumption and the seven patients' sudden cardiac arrest event, a myriad of potential 'agitators' that could have also contributed to a genetic heart disease-associated arrhythmia occurred, like sleep deprivation, dehydration, dieting or extreme fasting, concomitant use of QT-prolonging drugs, or the postpartum period,"

Side Effects Of Consuming Energy Drink:

• Energy drinks with high levels of caffeine content can cause pulses, increased heart rate, and high blood pressure.
• Due to their caffeine content, energy drinks can interfere with sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or poor sleep quality.
• High levels of caffeine can exacerbate feelings of nervousness, restlessness, and anxiety.
• Some people may experience gastrointestinal problems such as stomachaches, nausea, or diarrhea after consuming energy drinks, especially on an empty stomach.
• Regular consumption of energy drinks can lead to dependency on caffeine, resulting in withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating when intake is reduced or stopped suddenly.
• High consumption of sugar-sweetened energy drinks can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over time.
• Consumption of energy drinks has been associated with cardiovascular events such as arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) or even sudden cardiac arrest, particularly in individuals with underlying heart conditions.

Fresh juice and coconut water are some of the alternatives for energy drinks which are also healthier and beneficial than an energy drink.