Energy drinks cause arrhythmias

A new study finds that healthy adults who drink energy drinks - a beverage containing high levels of caffeine and taurin - will experience a significant increase in the rate of cardiac contraction an hour later. Scientists warn, this effect is particularly dangerous for children and people with heart rhythm problems.

German scientists have recently examined the effects of energy drinks on healthy adults, whose average life is 27.5 years. Each volunteer received a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan before and one hour after drinking energy drinks containing taurin (400mg / 100ml) and caffeine (32mg / 100ml).

The results showed that after taking energy drinks, the study subjects significantly increased the rate of cardiac left ventricular contraction - the part receiving oxygen-rich blood from the lungs, then pumped this blood into the aorta to distribute to the rest of the body.

Photo: albert-sd.cz

Dr Jonas Dörner, from the University of Bonn's Cardiology Department, said: "Until now, we still don't know exactly the effect of energy drinks on heart function. This drink usually contains taurin and caffeine as the main pharmacological ingredients, in which caffeine intake is three times higher in energy drinks than other caffeinated drinks such as coffee or cola.

As we all know, there are many side effects associated with the intake of large amounts of caffeine, including increased heart rate, palpitations, hypertension and in most serious cases a good stroke. sudden death".

Mr. Dörner added that he and his colleagues now need to conduct more research to determine the mechanism as well as the time when the left ventricle must work harder because of how long the energy lasts.

The team did not find any major differences in heart rate, blood pressure or blood pushing out of the left ventricle before drinking and after the energy drink was completely absorbed.

However, Dr. Dörner recommends, although the long-term risks from drinking energy drinks for daily activities are still unclear, children and people with arrhythmias may be serious. more problem.