In love with energy drinks? Danger is just a heartbeat away

A team from the University of Bonn in Germany imaged the hearts of 17 people in the space of one hour after they had consumed an energy drink.

The study showed contractions were more forceful after consuming the drink. The team told the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America that children and adults with health conditions should avoid these drinks.

Researcher Jonas Dorner said: "We don't know exactly what effect these energy drinks have on the function of the heart up until now. The amount of caffeine contained in these beverages is up to three times higher than in other caffeinated beverages like coffee or cola."

He added: "There are many side effects known to be associated with the high intake of caffeine, including rapid heart rate, palpitations, a rise in blood pressure and, in the most severe cases, seizures or sudden death."

But Dr. S.B. Dogra, a consultant cardiologist at the Jeddah National Hospital, said she was unsure about the research's findings. "Any such drink will have its advantages and disadvantages and we should be cautious when consuming them to avoid harmful effects," she said. "Anything in excess is always harmful to our health, even water," she told Arab News.

Source: Arab News