HOUSTON, Texas – If you’re like most people in the U.S., you probably start your day with some caffeine. About 90% of Americans consume caffeine daily.
While caffeine can boost your mood and help you feel more alert, there’s a limit to how much your body can process safely.
That’s especially true when it comes to energy drinks, which have become super popular, especially with young people and teens.
These brightly colored cans promise a quick jolt of energy, and some young people even collect and trade them like baseball cards. But should you let your teen have them?
Why Energy Drinks Can Be Risky
Dr. Jonathan Aliota, an interventional cardiologist at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Memorial City, says his advice is simple: avoid energy drinks. He said they can cause heart arrhythmias. These irregular beats can range from skipped beats to rapid palpitations, and they can be dangerous, especially if you have any underlying heart issues.
“Any stimulant can cause an arrhythmia,” Dr. Aliota explains. “The more you take, the more likely you are to have one.”
Energy drinks often pack more caffeine than a regular soda, sometimes the equivalent of drinking several sodas at once.
Although it’s not just the caffeine in energy drinks that can be harmful, some caffeine-free energy drinks contain vitamins and chemicals that mimic stimulants, which can lead to overstimulation.
This can cause problems like anxiety, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and even heart palpitations.
The American Beverage Association has been clear for years: energy drinks should not be marketed to kids under 13, nor sold in schools.
They also encourage companies to disclose on the can that the drinks are not recommended for children. Most of the energy drink cans KPRC obtained had that warning written on the label.
Yet, many teens still get their hands on these drinks, unaware of the risks.
Dr. Aliota warns that young people often end up in his office with heart palpitations caused by a mix of dehydration and energy drinks, especially in hot climates like Houston.
“Heat dehydrates you, and if you’re not drinking enough water but instead rely on energy drinks or soda, your heart is more likely to misfire,” Dr. Aliota said. “A dry heart is more likely to have skipped beats and palpitations.”
He said when someone in their 20s or 30s finds themselves in his office, it’s usually because of these complications from too much caffeine or energy drinks.
Simple Advice: Drink More Water
Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to keep your heart happy and healthy. Drinking plenty of water helps your heart beat regularly, keeps your muscles working well, and helps you stay alert naturally.
Also, be careful mixing caffeine with certain medications or supplements.
For example, combining caffeine with ephedrine (found in some decongestants) can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, or seizures. Even herbal supplements like echinacea, sometimes used for colds, can raise caffeine levels in your blood and cause anxiety or a faster heartbeat.
