The fact that energy drinks include a lot of caffeine and other stimulants was already known to diminish the function of blood vessels. The latest results presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association show that a single drink raises the consumers’ blood pressure and cortisol levels ( the hormone of stress), among other harmful effects.
Energy Drinks Are More Harmful To The Heart Than We Imagined
In the people who participated in a recent study, vessel dilation averaged 5.1% in diameter before drinking and then fell to 2.8%, suggesting an acute deterioration in vascular function. And only an hour and a half after consuming energy drinks.
The adverse effect may be related to the combination of ingredients in energy drinks, such as caffeine, taurine, sugars, and other herbs that, when combined, harm the endothelium, which is the lining of blood vessels.
Caffeine overdose does not necessarily lead to death, but it can cause heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, metabolic acidosis, and hypertension.
Energy Drinks Also Increase The Risks Of Type 2 Diabetes
Adults who consume energy drinks can increase the risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes as excessive levels of caffeine reduce insulin sensitivity. That is because one energy drink equals several cups of coffee. But that’s not the biggest problem!
Usually, energy drinks are refreshing and tasty, so everybody consumes them fast. Although some types of coffee may have caffeine levels comparable to energy drinks, coffee is often consumed hot and therefore slower. That sudden increase in caffeine could trigger a heart attack, even if the total dose is the same as a strong cup of coffee.
Also, a German study has indicated that energy drinks have caused “liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory disorders, agitation, convulsions, psychotic disorders, rhabdomyolysis, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, heart failure, and death.”
