Side Effects of Consuming Energy Drinks

I have a friend who consumes lots of energy drinks it happens to be his favorite. I have always heard that energy drink causes so many side effects on health, and most time create severe danger as well. Let's dive into this energy drink matter and see what it is about.

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It is quite easy to get energy drinks, which range from brand to brand, each coming with different price tags, energy drinks are also becoming more popular daily and they have associated heart risks too, especially when there is an underlying case of high blood pressure or heart issues.

Energy drinks can significantly affect the heart in several ways, causing changes in the way the heart functions, and causing the heart to beat in a faster or irregular manner. Imagine that you instantly begin to drive a car without giving it some time to warm up, that is a good example of what the consumption of energy drinks causes to your heart, this sudden change could lead to health problems.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the combination of high caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks could lead to high blood pressure and increased heart rate. The two, pose a high risk for heart disease.

Here are certain ingredients that need to be watched out for when consuming an energy drink.
The first is caffeine, which happens to be the primary stimulant in an energy drink, excessive caffeine in the body could result in increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and heart palpitations.

When sugar is consumed at a high level, it could contribute significantly to obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease, it could also create spikes in blood sugar levels.

Taurine when combined with caffeine could amplify the effects of stimulants, and increase blood pressure and heart rate simultaneously.

Ginseng is a popular herbal medicinal product whose ingredients are considered safe based on the words on the street. However, effective results for safety and effectiveness have not been proven through research.

Guarana also contains additional caffeine, which may not be separately listed.

Energy drinks also contain B vitamins, which we know to play an essential role in supporting many bodily functions, but energy drinks usually contain a lot more than we should have. Excessive B vitamins raise risks of toxicity, especially in people who have impaired liver or kidney function.

Although in the defence of energy drink consumers, there has not been any evidence to show that, one energy drink or even a few of them could trigger a heart attack without the presence of an underlying health issue. But taking energy drinks in large quantities especially when there are risk factors like diabetes, could contribute to heart attacks and other types of heart disease like heart failure.

Just like my friend, other people give an excuse for the need to stay awake to consume energy drinks a lot, but there are ways to go about these things. Understanding the ingredients that your energy drink brand contains will guide you into making healthier choices.

You can feel more awake when you get through the routine of sleeping well, eating healthy foods, and staying hydrated. The moment you realize that you feel anxious, unusually after consumption of the drink, it may be a call for you to stop and look for a better way to have your energy boost.

Accompanied by other underlying health issues, the consumption of energy drinks may cause a rise in heart disease and heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack include;

• Shortness of breath.
• Pain that radiates to the shoulder or jaw.
• Being lightheaded.
• Feeling nauseous.
• Feeling extremely tired or fainting.
• Unusual fatigue, is more common among women.
• Chest pain that affects the left side or center of the chest.

Conclusion

Energy drinks like several other sweetened foods can cause damage to the blood vessels and the heart over time, and it i almost impossible that just one energy drink would trigger a heart attack. However, regular consumption of energy drinks can exacerbate other heart diseases.

For Further Studies

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5501707/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151444

https://www.healthline.com/health/energy-drinks-and-heart-attacks

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/how-do-energy-drinks-affect-your-heart-and-overall-health/2024/05

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Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.