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20 years
Can drinking a can of any energy drink during the day on a daily basis cause any health problems?
Jun 16, 2014

Dr. Ghassan Nawfal Surgery
Yes, it may. Recent studies have shown that the combination of Caffeine and Taurine, found in energy drinks, causes more vigorous heart contractions, a fact that could be dangerous in young people with silent heart problems. It is also speculated that, straining the heart in such a way could, in time, be harmful to the person.
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Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
Consuming one can(8-16oz) of an energy drink is safe for most healthy people. However, excess consumption and consumption with other caffeine-containing beverages or alcohol may lead to adverse effects and possibly death.
when it comes to energy drinks consumption ,try the following if you take it on regular base :
• Limit energy drink consumption to no more than 1 can (8-16 oz) per day,although no clinically important electrocardiogram changes occurred, there were significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and thus patients with hypertension shouldn’t consume this type of drink.

• Don’t mix energy drinks with alcohol, as this can mask intoxication and may be extremely dehydrating.

• Rehydrate with water or an appropriately formulated sports drink after exercise or intense physical activity.

• If you experience an adverse reaction to an energy drink, report it to your health care professional or organization.

• If you’re being treated for hypertension, avoid consuming energy drinks.

• If you have a serious underlying medical condition, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, or arrhythmia, consult with your physician before using energy drinks.15

A major concern is consuming energy drinks with other caffeinated beverages and products, such as caffeinated gum (2 pieces = 1 cup of coffee), caffeinated water (60 to 120 mg per bottle), caffeinated maple syrup (84 mg caffeine per tablespoon), caffeinated popcorn snack (2-oz serving = 70 mg of caffeine), and espresso bean candy covered in dark chocolate (1.3-oz box = as much caffeine as 6 cups of coffee). It’s important to note that while the caffeine amounts of these beverages and products are common, they may vary significantly by brand than what’s mentioned above.
-Over-the-counter caffeine pills and pain relief medications are additional sources of caffeine that shouldn’t be consumed with energy products.

However, in moderation most people will have no adverse, short term side effects from drinking an energy drink, however, the long term side effects from consuming energy drinks aren’t fully understood as of yet.

>>Let’s take a look at the most common energy drink ingredients and list the potential side effects that could result from ingesting too much.

#Caffeine
This is the most common energy drink ingredient and one of the most widely consumed substances in the world.

Caffeine tolerance varies between individuals, but for most people a dose of over 400mg/day may produce some initial symptoms: restlessness, increase heartbeat, and insomnia.
Higher dosages can lead to:
1-Increased blood pressure
2-Heart palpitations
3-Gastrointestinal disturbance (diarrhea)
4-Increased urination
5-Dizziness, irritability, nausea, nervousness, jitters
6-Allergic reactions can include; rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the (mouth, face, lips, or tongue), diarrhea, shakiness, trouble sleeping, vomiting
7-Headache and severe fatigue from withdrawal
8-Painful withdrawal symptoms
Caffeine can be found in other natural ingredients such as guarana, green tea extract, and coffee extract or can go by many other names, so be aware of this when reading energy drink labels.

#SUGAR
Most energy drinks are high in sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup and/or cane sugar. Some use creative names to make their version of sugar seem “healthier”, like “natural cane juice”.
-High sugar drinks are linked to the obesity.
-Sugar causes tooth decay
-Increases risk of type 2 diabetes.
-The sugar in energy drinks causes blood sugar and insulin spikes, which later result in a “crash-like” feeling.
-Sugar is also somewhat addictive.

#Taurine
No side effects from the Taurine in energy drinks have been documented. The amount placed in energy drinks is well below what would be needed for therapeutic benefit or for any potential side-effects.

# B-Vitamins
More than 35mg of Niacin (B3) can cause flushing of the skin. Intake of 3000mg or more can result in liver toxicity.
More than 100mg of B6 can cause sensory nerve problems (burning sensation) or skin lesions.

# Inositol
No known side effects have been reported, but ingesting large quantities has been linked to diarrhea. Large doses have been used to treat certain psychiatric disorders.

# Ginseng
Some studies have linked it to sleeplessness, while others refute this.
Other possible symptoms include; low blood pressure, edema, palpitations, tachycardia, cerebral arteritis, vertigo, headache, insomnia, mania, vaginal bleeding, amenorrhea, fever, appetite suppression, pruritus, cholestatic hepatitis, mastalgia, euphoria, and miscarriage.

#Glucuronolactone
While no side effects have been reported, there’s still debate on its safety.

#Artificial Sweeteners
If you drink sugar-free energy drinks you may be consuming any number of artificial sweeteners. There is always debate around the negative health effects of these (particularly aspartame).

# Ginkgo Biloba
Gingko is a herb, and can cause some minor side effects in some people:
nausea, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and restlessness.
Can interact with other medication such as blood thinners and anti-depressants.
#L-Carnitine
Too much of this amino acid can cause vomiting, nausea, headache, diarrhea, stuffy nose, restlessness and sleeping difficulty.
#L-Theanine
This amino acid is derived from green tea and many energy drinks and shots have begun putting “green tea extract” in their products.
It produces a different type of alertness than caffeine and there hasn’t been any scientific evidence of it causing adverse side effects. Some have reported feeling light-headed when consuming a dose of more than 300mg of L-Theanine.

As a conclusion ,energy drinks shouldn’t be a staple of anyone’s diet and coffee is certainly a healthier source of caffeine.
However, despite a number of alarming reports of overdose in recent years, for most people energy drink consumption is fine in moderation.
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