Potential harm from energy drinks

Potential harm from energy drinks is substantial and involves multiple systems.  If you know someone who has had the unfortunate incidence of a heart attack or a stroke, nations two top killers, you know how devastating and disruptive it can be, not just for the patient but their loved ones as well.

Having seen so many problems come up once my dad had his mild heart attack which he recovered from mostly, I assure you steps to prevent it are priceless. (Tips on staying healthy)

We know that some foods (high fat, high cholesterol, and high sugar), and some behaviors (smoking, lack of activity, anger and type I personality) contribute to formation of clots in the coronaries and the carotids and other great vessels.  When one of these clots breaks off, depending on where it goes, it can be sudden death or serious decline in the quality of life, at best.

High blood pressure is also a big contributor to heart attacks and strokes so when I just read this paper on endothelial function being reduced after just one energy drink, I knew I had to blog about it in case it saves some kid or an adult somewhere from going down the wrong road.

Most people have energy drinks with high caffeine and taurine before a work out, study, or going to work.  John Higgins, MD, of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, Texas, says that even one energy drink can acutely effect the rebound ability of the arteries as the heart pumps more and more blood to muscles and brain, due to increased need, yet the loss of endothelial function (ability to take the increased pressure and volume coming from heart by dilation-ability to pulse) makes it harder to deliver the needed oxygen to the organs, by not dilating when needed.

Higgins explained that energy drinks generally contain three key ingredients — caffeine, sugar, and a propriety energy mix that can include amino acids such as taurine, glucose precursors, and vitamins, all often at very high doses.

“We believe the combination of these ingredients can be harmful. We don’t even know exactly what is in some of these proprietary energy mixes, and that needs to change. More transparency is clearly necessary,” Higgins said.

The effects mostly wear off over time, but according to the study, the younger an individual who consumes these drinks, the greater the length of time that the loss of endothelial function remains.  Over the course of years, that could become a major problem from cognitive deficit to high blood pressure, maybe even kidney damage.

I didn’t see any extrapolation in the paper on the eventual increase in blood pressure of these individuals (specially diastolic pressure/the lower number), yet I am sure higher blood pressure, that maybe more resistant to blood pressure lowering drugs, will ensue.  the high blood pressure is one of the biggest contributors to heart attack and stroke.

This is what an energy drink should be made of:  fruit and vegetables,

Its full of nutrients and anti-oxidants that will keep you ticking for a healthy life.