from American Heart Association
Energy drinks have become widely-used,
especially by college students—and
sometimes in combination with alcohol. A
study at the University of the Pacific,
presented to the American Heart Association,
adds to evidence that energy drinks may be
bad for our heart, increasing the risk of an
abnormal heart rhythm. Volunteers who
consumed an energy drink experienced a
significant increase in a marker of abnormal
heart beats known as the QTc interval along
with a slight rise in blood pressure. The lead
author says while we wait for more data,
some consumers should exercise caution and
not blindly follow the buzz. Those who may
be at risk are people with underlying cardiac
conditions such as congenital long QT heart
syndrome and hypertension.