A recent study has discovered a potential link between energy drink consumption and abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmia.
These beverages, containing high levels of caffeine and other accelerants like taurine, may contribute to an increased risk of arrhythmia, according to doctors.
Individuals with congenital heart conditions are advised to limit their intake of these drinks, while everyone else is encouraged to consume them in moderation.
The study examined 144 cases of sudden cardiac arrests, revealing that seven individuals had consumed energy drinks shortly before experiencing the event, leading to their hearts stopping.
The Mayo Clinic analysis hasn’t identified a direct cause-and-effect relationship between energy drinks and heart conditions.
However, experts caution against disregarding the potential risks associated with these beverages.
Scientists suggest that energy drinks might disrupt the normal function of the electrical pathways responsible for regulating the heartbeat.
Dr. Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and the study’s author, observed a potential temporal association between energy drink intake and sudden cardiac arrests.
However, he emphasised that additional factors, such as sleep deprivation, dehydration, and extreme fasting, could have also played a role in triggering the health crisis.
“Unusual consumption of energy drinks may have combined with other variables, resulting in a convergence of risk factors leading to sudden cardiac arrest in these individuals,” he elaborated.
Six of the seven individuals who suffered cardiac arrest after consuming an energy drink required electrical shock therapy for revival, with the seventh individual needing manual resuscitation.
Among them, three were regular consumers of energy drinks, while four had a genetic heart condition.
Although the study, published in the Elsevier journal Heart Rhythm, did not conclusively establish a direct cause, the researchers recommend moderation in energy drink consumption.
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Peter Schwartz of the Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics in Milan, Italy, expressed caution:
“Critics might dismiss these findings as merely coincidental associations. We acknowledge that there is no conclusive evidence that energy drinks directly cause life-threatening arrhythmias, and further data are needed.
However, we cannot ignore the potential risks and must raise awareness.”
Energy drinks typically contain caffeine levels ranging from 80mg to 300mg per serving, compared to the 100mg found in a standard cup of coffee.
Additionally, they often include other ingredients like taurine and guarana, believed to affect heart rate, blood pressure, and other cardiac functions.
Lead researcher Dr. Ackerman emphasised, “While the relative risk may be small and the absolute risk of sudden death after consuming an energy drink even smaller, individuals with a known genetic heart condition predisposing them to sudden death should carefully consider the risks and benefits of consuming such beverages.
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