Energy drinks are hyped worldwide as products that enhance energy levels, improve mental alertness, and up physical performance. In the US alone, next to multivitamins, energy drinks have become some of the most popular dietary supplements consumed by individuals of all ages. Sources have it that males between the ages of 18 and 34 consume high levels of energy drinks. Sadly, only a few of them take time to understand the health implications that these drinks; therefore, let’s take a look at some of them.
Heart Complications
In the past few years, the company responsible for marketing the 5-Hour Energy has at least filed 30 reports with FDA, regarding severe injuries linked with its products. These include, but not limited to, heart attacks, according to the New York Times. Thirteen years ago, in Australia, a middle-aged man suffered a life-threatening cardiac arresting after consuming eight cans of an energy drink. Reliable sources have it that the patient did not have a history of chest pain.
Some energy drinks contain caffeine and other compounds that are known to increase blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine might make heart cells to secrete calcium, and this might affect the heartbeat, which might then lead to arrhythmia. However, there is not enough evidence to back the claim that energy drinks might make consumers suffer from cardiac arrest, but it is a point worth noting.
Increases Drug Abuse
Stats claim that most college students that consume energy drinks have higher chances of abusing non-prescribed drugs. They are highly likely to use prescription painkillers or stimulants in their senior years at college. Experts state that just like prescription drinks, students find it easy to believe that energy drinks are safer, more socially acceptable, and so they can use them, however, ad whenever they please. Also, energy drinks are, to some extent, addictive, which is why many students mix them with alcohol. This is another topic worth addressing as alcohol mixed with energy drinks makes it hard for consumers to tell their intoxication levels.
Might Lead to Miscarriage
It is essential to mention that the FDA has also received multiple reports regarding miscarriages related to 5-Hour Energy. However, there have been mixed studies on the effects of caffeine on premature births. According to one study conducted in 2006 among 1,000 expectant mothers, those who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine each day are more likely to experience miscarriage compared to pregnant women who don’t take caffeine. However, in 2008, another journal was published, and it stated that there was no link between caffeine and miscarriage at twenty weeks of pregnancy.
Not Good for Your Child
Most energy drinks out there are the core reasons for caffeine overdose. Also, they tend to have high sugar levels, which is the first reason your child should never put energy drinks in their mouth. Understandably, too much of these chemicals and stimulants might lead to insomnia, dependence, heart palpitations, and dehydration, and you don’t want to expose your child to any of these when they are still young. This is because while some adults might stand some of these side effects, they tend to be highly extreme among children, and could lead to severe health complications such as mania, seizures, stroke, and death in some cases.
The Bottom Line
The American Academy of Family, alongside the American Academy of Pediatrics, has taken a robust stance that compounds and other stimulus substances contained in energy drinks should be in the diet of children and adolescents. Also, some adults might encounter similar health complications caused by the same compounds and chemicals. Therefore, if you are a grown-up looking for an energy boost, you have to be careful when taking energy drinks. Note that they do contain the chemicals in different proportions, which makes some of them more dangerous to your health.
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