Energy drinks have become a staple among college students, and the first choice to battle sleepiness. In addition, aggressive marketing techniques have also caused other groups to reach for a can while competing in sports, while other groups seem to have found that energy drinks go well with cocktails. Drinks like Red Bull, AMP and Rockstar are widely popular, representing a $3 billion per year market.
Recent research, however, has revealed that these beverages can cause heart conditions, leading many to question whether they are safe sources of energy.
The contemporary concept of energy drinks has actually been around for a little more than 100 years. At least one beverage specifically concocted for replenishing "energy" stores has been available in Scotland since 1901. The Japanese later capitalized on energy drinks in the 1960s, primarily focusing on businessmen and women with long commutes. The idea really began to take off in the 1980s, largely appealing to younger crowds in the U.S. before becoming a full-fledged, worldwide success in the late 1990s.
While certain drinks can be rather high in sugar - the primary biological source for energy - most energy drinks are particularly saturated with caffeine. Caffeine is not a source of energy, but a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system. You may feel more alert for a brief time after consuming an energy drink, but the effects may wear off very quickly and cause you to "crash."
Many energy drinks also contain various additives that have varied, and sometimes controversial, effects on the body. Purines, for instance, may lead to the development of diabetes mellitus.
Taurine, on the other hand, has a relatively positive effect on the heart.
Overall, however, the most important thing to know is that caffeine is actually the chemical taking the most effect on your body, not these additional compounds. A study at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit has found that energy drinks can raise the blood pressure of otherwise healthy young adults in as little as four hours. The study participants, who each agreed to drink no other sources of caffeine, experienced ten point diastole and five point systole hikes at the end of a ten day administration of energy drinks.
The doses per day were not extraordinarily excessive - two cans per day. All of the participants were at rest and relaxed when their blood pressures were measured.
For a healthy person, a small increase as exhibited by the individuals in the study is nothing to worry about. On the other hand, someone with already high blood pressure or those taking medicine to regulate their blood pressure are at a substantially heightened risk for heart disease or other complications. Other risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and genetics also play a role.
Furthermore, many doctors advise against falling prey to the various advertising campaigns and reaching for energy drinks while partaking in sports or other strenuous activities. The copious amounts of caffeine and sugars do little to rehydrate or re-energize you.
The study also states that mixing energy drinks with alcoholic drinks may put users at a greater risk for heart-related diseases, though it doesn't draw any definitiven conclusions.
Energy drinks may be your last ditch effort to stay awake in class or while writing an essay, but drinking them comes with risks that must be known - especially for those with medical conditions surrounding the heart. They're best avoided altogether.
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