An international study published in the Journal of American Medical Association found that energy drink consumption can lead to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and serious cardiovascular risks. The study showed that even one energy drink can cause potentially harmful spikes in both stress hormone levels and blood pressure in young, healthy adults. Doctors warn that the risks are likely related to the excess caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks. Frequent consumption of energy drinks can increase stress on the cardiovascular system and place chronic users at risk of heart problems.

1. Energy drinks bad for your
heart, finds study

2. Contd…
Energy drink consumption can lead to high blood pressure, increase in heart
rate and serious cardiovascular risks, a new international study by the
Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) has shown. The study
highlighted that even one energy drink can cause potentially harmful spikes
in both stress hormone levels and blood pressure in young, healthy adults.
Researchers and doctors said the risks are likely to be related to excess of
caffeine and other stimulants present in such drinks.
“Energy drinks contain caffeine and other stimulants which increase stress
on cardiovascular system.Frequent use of such stimulant increases extra
burden on heart. So chronic users of such drinks are prone to heart
problems,“ said Dr Kewal Krishan, program incharge, heart transplant and
ventricular assist devices, at Max Hospital.
Experts maintained though the findings are significant, they need larger
studies to validate the results.

3. Contd…
The researchers examined the effect of energy drink consumption on
hemodynamic changes, such as blood pressure and heart rate. Participants
were fasting and abstained from caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours prior to
each study day . Serum levels of caffeine, plasma glucose and
norepinephrine (noradrenaline) were measured and blood pressure and
heart rate were obtained at baseline and 30 minutes after drink ingestion.
Results of the study showed caffeine levels remained unchanged after the
placebo drink, but increased significantly after energy drink consumption.
Consumption of the energy drink elicited a 6.2% increase in systolic blood
pressure, whereas diastolic blood pressure increased by 6.8%.Consumption
of energy drink also increased average blood pressure level by 6.4%.
Doctors in India say there is an increasing trend of consuming these com
mercially available energy drinks, mainly among youths and this can amount
to serious health risks.

4. Contd…
“There is a trend of increasing intake of energy drinks before difficult
task ike exams and sports; however, this could lead to increase in
autonomic nerve system responses as demonstrated in this study , and
thus could jeopardise task performance instead of easing it. Further,
repeated intake will increase blood pressure and possibility of heart
disease,“ says Dr Anoop Misra, a leading endocrinologist and chairman,
Fortis C-Doc.