Energy Drinks May Raise Blood Pressure, Heart Rate: Study

A recent study suggests that drinking energy drinks may increase your blood pressure and heart rate, especially in women under age 40. The findings were published online in the journal PLOS ONE. Our findings contribute to the body of evidence linking energy drink consumption with adverse cardiovascular effects, said Dr Hannah Gardener, lead author of the study and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Although people often assume energy drinks are safe because they are available over-the-counter, that’s not necessarily true, Gardener said in a news release from PLOS ONE.

Energy drinks may be more dangerous than caffeine alone

A new study finds that energy drinks may raise blood pressure and heart rate in a way that caffeine alone does not. If further research backs up these findings, it could lead to stricter guidelines on beverages aimed at increasing mental focus and concentration. It could also change how food makers advertise such products—which often emphasize their ability to increase alertness without offering any additional health benefits. Some of these manufacturers are trying to claim energy drinks are 'food,' but I would argue that they're more of a dietary supplement, said James O'Keefe, M.D., senior author of a paper about these results and director of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke's Health System in Kansas City.

The study includes one large energy drink

The researchers concluded that most of those factors—such as blood pressure and heart rate—were similar between both groups. The exception? Those who consumed an energy drink reported feeling more alert after drinking it. More research is needed to examine exactly why that is. Because of those findings, though, study co-author James Lane said he would like to determine if there are any 'prehypertensive' individuals who might be at higher risk of developing hypertension from their regular consumption of energy drinks. That's because their blood pressure went up quite a bit in response to caffeine (around 20 per cent higher than non-consumers), while their heart rates remained relatively stable compared with non-consumers.

High blood pressure can damage your organs

Some people develop high blood pressure without even knowing it. High blood pressure damages your arteries over time and can lead to heart disease, stroke and other serious health problems. If you have hypertension, reducing sodium intake from processed foods is a good first step in controlling your blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help lower your risk of developing hypertension and reduce your need for medication.

Many health groups recommend limiting daily caffeine intake

In 2011, an Institute of Medicine committee recommended that healthy adults should limit caffeine intake to 200 milligrams a day. A 12-ounce soda contains approximately 35 milligrams of caffeine, so it would take at least three to four such drinks to reach the IOM's recommended daily limit. However, depending on their weight and metabolism and other factors, some individuals may be more sensitive to caffeine than others. And adolescents in particular may be more vulnerable because their bodies are still developing.

Excessive coffee consumption is linked to anxiety disorder

A new study has claimed that excessive consumption of coffee leads to anxiety disorder. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore analysed data of more than 47,000 adults over a period of 11 years and found that those who drank six or more cups of coffee each day were at an increased risk for developing anxiety. The researchers also found no connection between coffee consumption and depression. We should be aware that there are potential health risks for anxiety disorders from excessive caffeine intake, said lead author Anke Husson from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

A new way of measuring high BP could lead to better treatments in the future

Doctors are known to measure a patient’s blood pressure using two different types of measurements. The first measurement is called clinic blood pressure, which is taken by doctors during a medical exam. The second measurement is called ambulatory blood pressure, which is taken by doctors using portable devices that can be worn over several days or weeks at home or while on the go. Measuring high BP in a clinical setting may not be enough because people don’t always show symptoms while they are at their doctor’s office. People who have high BP but have never experienced any symptoms may have normal-looking clinic blood pressures but elevated ambulatory blood pressures measured over several days or weeks.

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