Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Just one energy drink can pose significant health risks

A single energy drink can alter your health significantly, and consuming energy drinks regularly can be absolutely devastating.

Alexandra Gerea by Alexandra Gerea
November 10, 2015
in Health, News, Nutrition

A new study conducted by  Dr Anna Svatikova from the Mayo Clinic found that even a single energy drink can alter your health significantly, and consuming energy drinks regularly can be absolutely devastating.

Image via Simon le Nippon (Flickr).

It’s no secret that energy drinks aren’t good for you. Excessive or repeated consumption of energy drinks has been linked to cardiac problems, such as arrhythmias and heart attacks, and psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and phobias. In 2011 alone, in the U.S., energy drinks were linked to 20,000 emergency room visits. In 42% of those cases, the patient had mixed energy drinks with another stimulant. But most people just shrug it off, thinking that they don’t drink “excessively”. Well, that’s no good; even a single serving can alter your health significantly.

Researchers recruited 25 healthy participants to consume one can of a 16 ounce (480 millilitre) Rockstar energy drink and a placebo drink in the course of 5 minutes in a random order on 2 separate days, that weren’t more than 14 days apart. The placebo drink was designed in a way that it had a similar texture, smell and taste than the energy drink, but without the caffeine and other stimulants (guarana, taurine, ginseng etc).

Patients were asked not to eat anything or drink any alcohol or caffeine 24 hours before the study. Researchers found that consumption of an energy drink caused a 6.2% increase in systolic blood pressure (from 108.4 mm Hg to 115.0 mm Hg) vs a 3.1% increase with the placebo drink (from 108.3 mm Hg to 111.6 mm Hg). Average blood pressure increased by 6.4% with energy drink (74.2 mm Hg to 78.9 mm Hg) and only 1% with a placebo (from 74.9 mm Hg to 75.4 mm Hg).

This comes as no surprise – in fact, in a way, it’s sad that studies like this have to be conducted, because it should almost be a no-brainer – even a single energy drink has a significant effect on your body, and the more you drink, the more risk you subject yourself to. The authors note in their study:

“These acute hemodynamic and adrenergic changes may predispose to increased cardiovascular risk. Further research in larger studies is needed to assess whether the observed acute changes are likely to increase cardiovascular risk.”

Now, arguably, they only used 25 subjects, and only used one brand – but the vast majority of brands have a similar chemical composition and would almost certainly generate similar results. As for the number of subjects, it seems very likely that the same would happen for a larger group, but perhaps it would be better if the same study is replicated on larger groups.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. WHO releases its first list of dangerous fungi that pose the greatest threat to human health
  2. Energy drinks mixed with alcohol makes you want to drink more
  3. UK Food agency starts campaign against potatoes which pose cancer risk
  4. Drinking too much caffeine can kill you — Latte, soda, and energy drink combo kill US teen
  5. The health risks of second-hand marijuana smoke shouldn’t be ignored
Tags: energy drinkhealth

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW