Researchers at the American Heart Association have published a study that points to a link between energy drinks and high blood pressure.
The study, which was effected by two separate entities, the University of the Pacific and the David Grant Medical Center, pinpointed the consumption of energy drinks as having specific effects on the cardiovascular system.
The combination of caffeine and taurine, the active components in energy drinks, have a direct effect on vascular tension, which in turn can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels.
The study observed changes in the QT wave after consumption of an amount between 1 to 3 energy drinks. Those who drank more of the energy drinks showed a markedly longer QT interval.
The QT is the interval that measures the heart's electrical cycle, and shows the heart's rhythm.
Each additional can of energy drinkcaused a lengthening of the QT interval by 10 milliseconds. Doctors usually are concerned when the QT interval reaches the 30 millisecond increasel from what would be the usual interval observed in a baseline readout from the same individual.
Longer QT intervals are usually of concern because they are associated with life threatening arrythmias.
The consumption of energy drinks also were shown to cause an increase in systolic blood pressure, the pressure commonly associated with strokes and other hypertensive symptoms, by an average of 3.5 points.
The study pointed to a need to warn those people who have pre-existing conditions, or who are hypertensive, to exercise caution when drinking energy drinks.
source: MNT 3.24.13
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