According to information posted on Heathline, energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. It is estimated that up to 30% of American teenagers now consume energy drinks on a regular basis. What is worrying is that energy drink marketing tactics are increasingly targeting young people. Estimates show that energy drink sales in the US and around the world have increased by more than 240%.
Although energy drinks are promoted as a way to enhance physical or mental performance, excessive consumption of energy drinks has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular side effects, including increased blood pressure, heart disease, and heart attacks.
1. The link between energy drinks and heart attacks
In recent years, excessive energy drink consumption has been linked to an increase in emergency room visits and a variety of life-threatening cardiovascular complications, including heart attacks.
Energy drinks contain moderate to high amounts of caffeine and sugar, along with various stimulants such as guarana, taurine, carnitine, and ginseng. Experts have confirmed that excess sugar and caffeine can lead to consequences such as: insomnia, heart problems, high blood pressure, overweight, and obesity.
Drinking energy drinks carries the risk of caffeine overload and caffeine addiction.
The average can of energy drink contains about 41 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that adult men consume no more than 9 teaspoons of sugar a day, or 37.5 grams. It's important to note that not all energy drinks are high in sugar, and some use sugar substitutes.
Data suggests that the maximum recommended daily intake of caffeine is 100mg per day for adolescents and 400mg per day for adults. However, some energy drinks contain more than 500mg of caffeine, and regular consumption can lead to a number of health problems due to caffeine overdose.
Other stimulant ingredients in energy drinks, such as taurine and ginseng, can also cause health problems when consumed in high doses and on a regular basis, especially when combined with caffeine. Studies have shown that many energy drinks contain excessive amounts of these ingredients. For example, some energy drinks contain 10 times the recommended daily amount of taurine.
A 2017 review found that excessive consumption of energy drinks can lead to a variety of cardiovascular problems, including arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and myocardial infarction. The researchers noted that these cases involved consuming large amounts of energy drinks in a short period of time, often in combination with alcohol or other stimulants.
2. Some heart-related problems when abusing energy drinks
According to research, energy drinks have been shown to increase your heart rate by up to 20 beats per minute. Research shows that consuming too many energy drinks can harm your heart in a variety of ways, leading to a variety of cardiovascular problems, such as:
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. It can cause a rapid, pounding heartbeat or shortness of breath and is a leading cause of heart attack or stroke.
Hypertension
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, includes complications such as blood vessel damage, stroke, and heart attack. A 2019 study found that energy drinks increase blood pressure, which can cause health problems in people with hypertension.
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmias are caused by problems with the heart's electrical system, which regulates heart rhythm. This can cause the heart to beat too slowly or too fast.
A 2021 review found that consuming large amounts of energy drinks in a short period of time can disrupt the heart’s electrical system in several ways, leading to increased resting heart rate. The authors note that these changes may be relevant for people with certain risk factors, including those with:
- Diabetes
- High body mass index (BMI).
- Family history of cardiovascular disease.
Heart failure
In a 2021 report, a 21-year-old man who consumed an average of four cans of energy drinks per day for two years was found to have both heart failure and kidney failure. His symptoms and heart function improved significantly with medication and after he stopped drinking energy drinks.
In another case, a 24-year-old man who drank eight to 10 cans of energy drinks a day for two weeks showed signs of heart damage, including left ventricular enlargement and problems with the heart's ability to pump blood.
Consuming too much sugar
Consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and serious medical conditions. A 2020 systematic review found that high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including energy drinks, soft drinks, and carbonated drinks, leads to increased systolic blood pressure and hypertension in children and adolescents.
3. Symptoms of a heart attack to watch out for
See your doctor if you experience the following symptoms or see them in a loved one or someone around you. Early treatment and emergency care can help reduce the amount of damage to your heart muscle.
People with high blood pressure and heart disease should not use energy drinks.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain or discomfort that may last more than a few minutes and feel like uncomfortable pressure or squeezing.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Cold sweat
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.
- Shortness of breath, feeling of difficulty breathing.
Other symptoms of a heart attack may include unusual fatigue, nausea or vomiting.
4. Doctor's advice
Drinking alcohol or using other stimulants with energy drinks can increase the risk of palpitations. A 2014 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 71% of young people (18-29 years old) mixed energy drinks with alcohol.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hoai Thu - Nutrition Specialist, one of the biggest problems with energy drinks is that many people mix them with alcohol. When mixing energy drinks with alcohol, the drinker will feel like they are not drunk and drink more alcohol because energy drinks increase alertness, hiding the signs of drunkenness. Therefore, mixing energy drinks with alcohol is considered an act that increases alcohol use among young people.
There is currently no consensus on how much energy drink can cause a heart attack. It may depend on many factors, including the ingredients, age, medical conditions, and personal health history.
Dr. Nguyen Hoai Thu recommends that children and adolescents should not use energy drinks unless under careful parental supervision because children aged 12-18 should not drink more than 100mg of caffeine per day.
For adults who drink energy drinks, check the label to see how much caffeine each energy drink contains. Do not consume more than 200mg of caffeine at a time and never mix energy drinks with alcohol.
Energy drinks are often confused with sports drinks.
According to nutritionists, energy drinks are not sports drinks and do not have the energy-boosting effects that many people think. Athletes should not consume energy drinks during or after physical activity because the caffeine can easily cause dehydration. Drinking energy drinks while exercising or playing sports does not compensate for the loss of water and leads to further dehydration.
For people with diabetes or kidney disease, energy drinks should not be consumed because high levels of caffeine over a long period of time can put them at risk of dangerous complications.
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/uong-nhieu-nuoc-tang-luc-co-the-gay-dau-tim-172240617164649739.htm
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