Can Sugar Raise Heart Rate?

Excessive sugar consumption has been implicated in the increasing incidence of obesity, lipid abnormalities and Type 2 diabetes in the United States. Added sugars, which are caloric sweeteners manufacturers or consumers use to increase the desirability of processed or prepared foods, represent about 16 percent of the average American's daily caloric intake, according to a study published in "The Journal of the American Medical Association" in April 2010. For some people, excessive sugar consumption is not just a long-term problem; a few individuals experience unpleasant side effects, such as elevated heart rate, immediately after eating a sugary meal.

Sugar Digestion

Sucrose, or table sugar, is composed of two simple sugars, or monosaccharides. Both of these monosaccharides -- glucose and fructose -- are produced by plants during photosynthesis. Certain plants, such as sugar cane and sugar beets, combine glucose and fructose to form sucrose. Once you eat sucrose, it is rapidly cleaved into its monosaccharide constituents, which readily pass across your intestinal lining into your bloodstream. These sugars are then transported to your liver, where fructose can be converted to glucose. Your liver then uses the glucose for energy, converts it to glycogen or releases it into your bloodstream, where it can elicit a variety of physiologic effects, including a rapid heart rate.

Insulin

As your blood glucose level increases in response to a sugary meal, your pancreas is stimulated to release insulin, a hormone that triggers the uptake of glucose by the cells of your liver, muscles and fat tissue. The more quickly and dramatically your blood glucose rises, the greater the surge in insulin production. The sharp insulin "spike" that is associated with sugary foods drives your blood glucose quickly downward, which could result in a condition called reactive hypoglycemia.

Reactive Hypoglycemia

According to "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy," a rapid fall in blood glucose concentrations triggers the release of glucagon and epinephrine from your pancreas and adrenal glands. These "counter-regulatory" hormones stimulate your autonomic nervous system, which can lead to sweating, rapid heartbeat, nausea, shakiness, warmth and anxiety. In addition, the rapid decline in your blood glucose stimulates the appetite centers in your brain, leading to increased hunger and, eventually, higher food consumption.

Considerations

Simple sugars, such as sucrose, are readily digested and absorbed into your bloodstream. This causes a rapid increase in your blood glucose level, triggering a surge in pancreatic insulin production. This, in turn, leads to a dramatic fall in your blood glucose concentration and the outpouring of compensatory hormones that could cause a rapid heart rate, as well as other symptoms. Thus, the consumption of excess sugar can cause short-term as well as long-term adverse health effects. The American Heart Association recommends that adult males consume no more than 9 tsp. of sugar daily, and women should limit their daily sugar intake to 6 tsp.or less.