How Do Energy Drinks Affect Heart Pressure?

Ingredients

The majority of energy drinks share two key ingredients: taurine and caffeine. Taurine is a type of amino acid which fish, meats and other protein foods contain. Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, soda and chocolate. Caffeine is sometimes utilized as a metabolism booster. According to the American Heart Association, an energy drink contains the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee, though some brands may contain more. These ingredients are aimed to keep you awake and alert, though they have the potential to adversely affect your health.

Uses

Energy drinks are most popular among students and athletes who want an instant boost of energy. Although energy drinks are often used by athletes, they are different from sports drinks. Sports drinks contain water, salt and sugar, and are designed to replenish the electrolytes and energy your body loses during exercise. However, sports drinks do not contain chemicals that directly increase your energy levels as energy drinks do.

Heart Rate

In 2007, Wayne State University in Michigan conducted a study on how energy drinks might affect blood pressure and the heart. Participants, who were in their 20s, drank two energy drinks a day for seven days straight. The participants did not consume caffeine for two days prior to the study. Heart rates were measured each day within two hours of consuming the energy drinks, while the participants were sitting down. The results showed that there was an average heart rate increase of 11 percent on the seventh day, an increase of up to seven beats per minute. Blood pressure also increased by over seven percent, which signified the added pressure to the heart.

Preexisting Conditions

The effects of energy drinks on the participants' hearts were due to amounts of caffeine and taurine that was consumed. The American Heart Association states that these results found by Wayne State University are not enough to pose serious health risks. However, you should steer clear of energy drinks if you have a preexisting heart condition. The studied participants did not have any underlying health conditions, so the effects of energy drinks on heart problems is not clear. Still, the American Heart Association states that energy drinks can worsen any heart problems or interfere with prescription medications for your heart. Also, energy drinks can pose an increased risk of heart problems during exercise, as your heart rate naturally increases on its own during physical activity. Even if you do not have a preexisting heart condition, exercise caution when consuming energy drinks and use in small doses.