How Energy Drinks Affect People's Lives

Introduction

Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Rockstar, and Monster, are commonly consumed by adults, college students, and even teenagers. The energy drink called Monster is renowned as one of the best energy drinks for its energizing power; for this reason, energy drinks have received strong attention for their potential impact on humans, allowing them to study or work without feeling tired or sleepy overnight.

Why Do People Drink Energy Drinks?

The first energy drink appeared in the U.S. in 1949. When Red Bull was first launched in 1997, the energy drink market grew dramatically as various energy drink brands were released worldwide. Energy drinks are designed to give an “energy boost” to consumers by combining stimulants and energy boosters; since energy drinks are often alternatives to coffee, they also contain caffeine. 

The large amount of caffeine in energy drinks provides consumers with desirable effects such as improved memory, increased alertness, and elevated mood. An experiment was conducted on the positive effects of energy drinks on mental performance, showing that choice reaction, concentration, and memory were significantly improved, which indicated increased subjective alertness. Moreover, the results of a recent study reported that consumption of approximately 3 mg/kg of caffeine in the form of energy drinks significantly improved the physical performance of female volleyball players. By drinking energy drinks, human cognitive function and mood can be improved, allowing individuals to preserve their initial level of attention for a period of up to six hours.

The combination of caffeine and glucose in energy drinks also shows beneficial properties. In one study, a glucose-based energy drink was given to 11 tired volunteers who were examined in a driving simulation. From this experiment, significant improvements were observed in lane drifting and reaction times for up to two hours post-consumption. The results showed that energy drinks reduced both reaction times on the behavioral control tasks as well as ratings of mental fatigue.

What Are the Risks of Drinking Energy Drinks?

Despite the fact that the above-mentioned studies have identified positive effects of energy drinks on exercise performance, it is very important to note that other researchers have documented either no significant effects or detrimental health consequences. Several studies have shown an increase in heart rate and arterial blood pressure after energy drink consumption. Significant cardiac manifestations such as ventricular arrhythmias, ST-segment elevation, and QT prolongation have been documented following energy drink overconsumption. Additionally, atrial fibrillation has been reported after high-energy drink ingestion in two healthy boys, 14 and 16 years of age. Recently, energy drink consumption has been related to myocardial infarction in the health of 17 and 19-year-old boys. This experiment and observation have been supported by the findings that consuming energy drinks reduces endothelial function and stimulates platelet activity through arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation in healthy young adults. 

Recent reports have documented and demonstrated a relationship between energy drink overconsumption and arterial dilation, aneurysm formation, dissection, and rupture of large arteries. Not only do energy drinks influence the cardiovascular system, but they also cause many negative effects: Neurological, psychological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, renal, and dental problems.

Recent Years Analysis

In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks by young adults and athletes has risen significantly, while concerns have been raised about potential risks associated with excessive consumption, including cardiovascular problems, nervous system disorders, and the potential for addiction. This review aims to examine the reported effects of acute or chronic abuse of energy drinks on human health. The analysis shows a significant prevalence of adverse effects, especially on the cardiovascular and neurovegetative systems. 

Moreover, the analysis identified nine cases of cardiac arrests, three of which are fatal. These adverse effects are attributed to the inherent neurostimulant properties of these beverages, with caffeine being the predominant component. Therefore, some critics call for stricter limits on the consumption of energy drinks compared to caffeine alone, based on the evidence found and the data in the literature, calling for the quick establishment of regulations governing the consumption of these products in light of their potential fatal negative impact on human health.

Conclusion

Energy drinks may show some positive beneficial effects on exercise performance in various field activities. However, while energy drinks consumption might benefit performance, potentially harmful detrimental health problems have been documented, specifically among children, adolescents, young adults, and athletes. Many different parts of the body are negatively affected by energy drink consumption. Considering this fact and the increasing popularity of these beverages, caution should be exercised while consuming energy drinks. By reminding ourselves that drinking energy drinks may possibly affect our health, we should reduce our consumption of energy drinks and be aware of their dangers and potential effects on human bodies. Additionally, overambitious marketing and non-scientific claims should be regulated until independent studies confirm that energy drinks are safe. Instead, we can find alternatives to caffeine and energy drinks to keep our bodies healthy!

References:

• https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/how-do-energy-drinks-affect-your-heart-and-overall-health/2024/05

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4682602/

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4682602/#:~:text=36)-,Beneficial%20effects,conducted%20by%20Alford%20et%20al.

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10535526/#:~:text=The%20Food%20and%20Drug%20Administration,increase%20scholastic%20or%20athletic%20performance.