The Dangers of Energy Drinks

There are many times in our lives, when we all feel that we could use a little more energy. So consequently, we're always looking for something (generally caffeine) to give us that "extra lift" that's needed, at certain times of the day. There are various (relatively new) drinks on the market, that many teenagers and young adults are reaching for habitually, in hopes of feeling greater energy. In fact, they're called "energy drinks", and they have hidden dangers that you might not be aware of.

Some names of popular energy drinks (containing large amounts of caffeine and herbs) include Red Bull, Adrenaline Rush, Venom, 180, ISO Sprint, Cocaine, Monster, and many others. These energy drinks are predominantly marketed toward those under 30, and are easily available on and off college campuses. You'll see them in grocery stores, clubs, convenience stores, and schools. Many people have no idea that they could actually end up with a caffeine overdose from these so called "energy drinks." The category of beverages that these caffeine laden energy drinks fall within are "herbal supplements", and as such, they are not regulated by the FDA. Adding to the confusion, many of the manufacturers of these energy drinks, use herbal names for ingredients containing caffeine, so that consumers may have no idea of the actual amount of caffeine in the drinks. In addition, many of the energy drink labels list the amount of caffeine by servings, but consumers often don't realize that some of the drinks actually contain 3 servings.

Recommended daily doses of caffeine are 100 or 200 milligrams for teens, and 200-300 milligrams for adults. Shockingly, some of the 24-ounce energy drinks contain 10,500 milligrams of total caffeine. Many people may also add other sources of caffeine, such as coffee, or caffeine tablets, and can suffer severe adverse effects. This is not at all unusual for college students or shift workers, for whom there is a high motivation towards staying awake. The use of energy drinks can become even more complicated during sports activity, or other physical exertion. Physical activity increases the heart rate; caffeine does also. Dehydration can occur with the use of energy drinks, also leading to an increased heart rate. All of this combined, overtaxes the heart tremendously.

Emergency rooms and Poison Control centers are seeing a definite escalation of caffeine overdoses, related to energy drinks. According to ABC 33/40 News, Stephen Walker, an Alabama teenager, began to get excruciating cramps all over his body, that left him screaming in pain, unable to move. He had been drinking several high caffeine energy drinks, along with regular soft drinks, throughout the day, and then went to football practice in the extreme summer heat. Upon physical exertion, he then became severely dehydrated, and ended up in the ER. His father warned all parents to be very cautious about energy drinks, ( which normally contain large amounts of caffeine), and to be aware that many teens are drinking several cans at a time, or within a short time period.

Risks of consuming too many energy drinks, or of combining caffeine sources, include not only dehydration, but seizures, insomnia, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure. Other problems resulting from the use of these high caffeine energy drinks, are headaches, nervousness, irritability, and dizziness. Those with heart problems should not drink energy drinks.

Combining energy drinks and alcohol can cause serious problems, as the drinks are stimulants, and the alcohol is a depressant. The stimulant effect of the energy drinks, can mask the amount of alcohol actually consumed, and the person may not realize how impaired they are. They begin to feel invincible, and consume even more alcohol. If the consumer falls asleep, he could aspirate vomit into the lungs, or suffer respiratory problems. As mentioned before, since caffeine can also cause dehydration, this could affect the way the body is able to metabolize the alcohol, thereby increasing its toxicity.

While the energy drink, Red Bull, may be a crowd pleaser in the U. S., it has actually been banned in France, after being connected with the death of an 18 year old athlete, who died after drinking 4 cans of the beverage, at a game. By law, Red Bull exceeds the allowable amount of caffeine for products in France. The energy drink has also been banned by Denmark and Norway. In Canada, energy drinks are required to carry a warning for children and pregnant women. This is significant, because many younger children are partaking of the energy drinks, without realizing the potential dangers. (Sadly, there is no age requirement for purchase of the drinks.)

So the next time you see a young person (or an older one) reach for the "liquid high" that caffeine filled energy drinks can give, consider sharing some of this information with them, and let them know that they are definitely living on the edge, if they do not practice moderation in the amount of drinks they consume.

Sources: http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0708/536125_video.html?ref=newsstory

http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/atod/energydrinks.htm

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/energy-drink.htm