Health Risks of Energy Drinks

34.5 million users consume energy drinks. However, there are health concerns and work safety issues such as effects on mental and physical health. Energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster are not considered food but rather as a dietary supplement. So they do not have the same safety regulations as food.

Health concerns for caffeine include nervousness, increased heart rate, toxicity, and poisoning. Routine use and abuse of caffeine can result in dependence and tolerance. The withdrawal could produce symptoms including headaches, fatigue and depression. Other effects include tooth erosion, psychiatric events, acute mania, strokes and death. Additionally, energy drinks can have an effect on the heart. “These effects include an increased heart rate, palpitations, chest pain, hypertension and arrhythmias, including ventricular and atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.”

Lately, people have been pairing caffeine with alcohol.  The extra caffeine provided by the energy drinks allows people to drink more alcohol at one time. This puts them at risk for alcohol poisoning and a lack of awareness of their level of impairment from the alcohol. This contributes to an increase of related risks such as injury, impaired driving, or sexual assault.

Caffeine causes pregnant women to experience extreme caffeine effects more than nonpregnant people. Studies of caffeine consumption in pregnant women have suggested contradictory result. “Some studies have suggested that caffeine may be associated with teratogenic effects, preterm birth, growth restriction and/or pregnancy loss.” Other studies have failed to replicate these findings.

In conclusion, as a result of increased consumption of energy drinks, people need to be more aware of the potential side effects of heavy caffeine consumption.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/doi/10.1111/j.1751-486X.2012.01766.x/full