Energy Drink Consumption Linked to Cardiac Symptoms

High consumption of energy drinks is linked to cardiac symptoms such as palpitations and increased heart rate, according to a new study.

Over the past decade, the popularity of energy drinks has risen as well as emergency room visits due to cardiac symptoms.

To determine whether there is a connection between consuming energy drinks and hospital visits, researchers collected data from 60 patients between 13 and 40 years old who presented heart palpitations at South Australian hospitals from 2014 to 2015.

Patients were surveyed on whether they had consumed an energy drink or alcohol within the 24 hours prior to their hospital visit.

After analyzing the data, researchers found that 36% of patients had consumed at least 1 energy drink within the prior 24 hours; 8 patients had consumed more than 5 energy drinks and 1 had consumed 12 energy drinks and alcohol.

In addition, patients who had consumed more energy drinks were more likely to have heart palpitations, increased heart rate, and chest pain, although the patients had no risk factors for heart disease.

--Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Busuttil M and Willoughby S. A survey of energy drink consumption among young patients presenting to the emergency department with the symptom of palpitations. Int J Cardiol. February 1, 2016. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.11.118.