People who are leading a very busy lifestyle tend to have this notion that there is so much to do yet so little time. While we can do things when we are in the mood or when we are still energized, there are also times when we just want to sleep and do nothing. People who are used to being busy, this is one thing that they dreaded the most — doing nothing. That is why, when we want to accomplish a lot in a day, we start to get desperate in looking for ways to boost our energy. Many people depend on coffee to start their day. Caffeine can boost your energy and allow you to stay awake and energized. However, there are also some who feel that drinking coffee isn’t enough to boost their energy; and so, they resort to drinking energy drinks.
Energy drinks can provide people with the extra energy they need to get them through the things that need to be done. In most cases, energy drinks are often used by young adults who have a lot of things to do such as work, family and social activities. Because of its effect, some of us become dependent on energy drinks.
Energy drinks are beverages that contain ingredients that are known to increase energy in people. What are these ingredients? Most energy drinks contain caffeine, ginseng, B vitamins, sugar, taurine, carnitine, ginkgo biloba, and green tree extract. These ingredients are safe to take; however, this is no longer the case when you consume too much of it. Did you know that relying too much on energy drinks is bad for your health, especially for your heart?
What Are The Medical Reports Saying?
Medical reports have been made with cases of Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden deaths due to overconsumption of energy drinks. And according to a recent report from the American Heart Association, even 8-ounce of servings worth of energy drinks are enough to spike up your blood pressure which may lead to cardiac arrhythmia.
Energy drinks can be bad for your heart because it can raise your blood pressure, which can increase your risk of suffering from a heart attack and stroke. How does this happen? Taking energy drinks can make your blood vessels narrower; thus, making it harder for your heart to pump blood. When this happens, your heart will try to pump harder, which can increase your heartbeat and heart rhythm.
There is no clear reason as to why energy drinks have this effect on heart, but experts are eyeing on its caffeine content. A good consumption of caffeine should not exceed 400mg per day. And an energy drink contains around 80mg of caffeine for every 8 ounces. However, the problem is that most energy drinks are sold in larger containers so it contains not just 8 ounces but more. Overconsumption of energy drinks can lead to toxicity, especially with the presence of heart ailment.
Moreover, other ingredients of energy drinks also contain caffeine so it becomes a caffeine loaded drink. Not all ingredients of energy drinks are regulated by the FDA too. So basically, the combination of ingredients found in energy drinks can make it harmful to your heart and could put you at potential risk down the line. The best and safest way to improve your energy level is to get plenty of sleep, exercise, and relaxation whenever you can. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us at Virginia Arrhythmia Consultants.