Energy drinks speed up the heart rate and increase blood pressure, which can be deadly.
Energy drinks dangerously speed up heart rate and raise blood pressure, research says new study. 34 volunteers aged 18 to 40 were recruited. All were in good health. Some drank 907 milliliters of energy drinks, others a placebo, for three days in a row. Their heart rate and blood pressure were measured every 30 minutes for 4 hours after drinking the fluids.
The heart may beat abnormally
The energy drinks contained caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone and vitamin B. In participants who drank them, researchers found that the QT interval was 7.7 milliseconds higher than in consumers of the placebo. The QT interval is a measure of how long it takes for the ventricles of the heart to prepare to generate a beat again. If this time interval is too short or too long, the heart may beat abnormally. The resulting arrhythmia is then life-threatening.
The blood pressure of those who drank energy drinks was also much higher. Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (coronary insufficiency, stroke, renal insufficiency, heart failure, arterial aneurysm, aortic dissection, arrhythmia, dementia, etc.)…
Caffeine is not to blame
Problems with energy drinks “cannot be attributed to caffeine. We urgently need to find the ingredient or combination of ingredients that could explain the results of our clinical trial”, believes A. Shah, director of the study.
It is estimated that about 30% of American teenagers regularly consume energy drinks. In France, approximately 32% of consumers drink them on festive occasions (bars, discos, concerts, etc.), 41% in connection with a sporting activity and 16% mixed with alcohol. In 2017, sales of energy drinks in France increased by 7.6%.
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