Heart Rate & Soda

Sodas are composed of carbonated water and flavored syrup. That syrup may include caffeine and lots of sugar. Some sodas are marketed as energy drinks, with the energy coming from caffeine, more sugar and herbal extracts. In some people, these ingredients can produce a faster-than-normal heart rate. You might feel as if you are being chased by wolves because your heart is racing so fast, even though you have no real reason to be stressed. If you find yourself in this situation, try tapering off your soda intake.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a naturally derived stimulant found in coffee, sodas and nutritional supplements. People respond differently to caffeine, and for some it causes the heart to beat faster. If you are very caffeine-sensitive, you might have heart palpitations every time you drink a cola.

Sugar

Sugar does not consistently raise everyone's heart rate all the time, but in some cases it does. A study by D.O. Kennedy in "Psychopharmacology" studied test subjects who had taken a glucose drink before trying to complete a mentally challenging task. One of the factors that indicates the brain is working hard at processing information is increased heart rate. Kennedy's study found a higher heart rate among the sugar-drinkers than the control group, which had not consumed the glucose drink.

Energy Drinks

There are sodas and then there are power sodas, also called energy drinks. These can contain a wide variety of ingredients that affect heart rate. One energy drink brand has 200 mg caffeine per serving, several times more than most sodas. The same brand also contains guarana and green tea, both of which are stimulants that can increase heart rate.

Risks

Too much caffeine can raise your heart rate too high, leading to an arrhythmia and an uncomfortable feeling like your heart is hammering in your chest, according to the Mayo Clinic. Excessive caffeine can disrupt your sleep, make you feel nervous and irritable, and contribute to high blood pressure. In addition, sugary sodas provide additional calories that can add up over time, leading to weight gain that can take a lot of effort to lose.

Restrictions

Because of the high sugar and caffeine content in sodas and most energy drinks, these beverages should be a treat you enjoy occasionally and not a large part of your fluid intake for the day. If you find your heart racing every time you have a soda, consider switching beverages. Replace one carbonated beverage per day with a glass of water or milk.