Energy Drinks Linked to Increased Hospital Visits

New research into the effects of energy drinks has shown that hospital visits resulting from their consumption have more than doubled over the last four years. Performed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the study examined data gathered from emergency room visits in hospitals across the country. Their research found that in 2007, nearly 10,000 incidences stemming from energy drinks were reported; a number that grew to more than 20,000 in 2012.

Of those admitted last year, 42% had mixed an energy drink with another stimulant, such as Adderall, Ritalin, or alcohol. The remaining 58% involved energy drinks on their own. Much of the damages inflicted came from dramatically increased blood pressures as a result of the high levels of caffeine found in most energy drinks. Heart rates can rise quickly as well, as the body starts to feel the effects of the caffeine. From this increased blood pressure and heart rate, a number of issues can result, including serious heart attacks.

Energy drinks also contain a number of other substances that, according to many doctors, go completely unregulated, and significantly add to the stimulant nature of the drinks. The energy drink makers themselves have long refuted these claims, and even the American Beverage Association has released a statement following the results of the study to ensure the public that the drinks are safe. In the statement, the industry trade association denounced the study’s findings, citing a lack of information making it impossible to understand the actual role an energy drink had in each of the ER visits. It was also claimed that much of the issues were the result of misuse, rather than an inherent danger from the product itself.

The ABA also highlighted that caffeine levels found in today’s energy drinks are actually less than half of those found in a cup of coffee available at any coffee house around the country, though conflicting reports have countered that caffeine levels were more than seven times higher than that of sodas.

In the wake of the newly released study, the FDA has announced that they will conduct a more careful examination of the SAMHSA’s findings and determine what if anything should be done to help remedy the situation. If a substantial health and safety risk is uncovered, sweeping regulations may go into effect limiting the contents of energy drinks into the future. The investigation is likely to take a significant period of time however, as conflicting and partial reports have not yet told the full story of the potentially negative effects of energy drinks. Long term effects are also difficult to determine, as the drinks themselves have not been on the market for very long.

In the meantime, it remains important for energy drink consumers to use the products safely, avoiding other stimulants that can so serious internal damages. While producers and federal regulators continue to argue the potential harm, the best way to protect yourself is to drink responsibly, avoiding injecting too much caffeine over too short a period of time.