What happens to your blood pressure when you drink energy drinks every day?

Whether it’s shooting a night or pushing through a mid-afternoon crisis, energy drinks are perfect. But behind this energy radiance is a powerful mixture of caffeineSugar and stimulants that can increase your blood pressure and negatively affect your health.

Energy drinks increase blood pressure

“Caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure by blocking adenosineA chemical that helps to relax blood vessels, ”said Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCE, a cardiology dietitian in Entirely nourished.

When this happens, the blood vessels contract instead of expanding. This process triggers the nervous system to release stress hormones like adrenaline, which makes the heart and blood pressure beat.

This increase in blood pressure is generally temporary in healthy adults. Energy drinks generally increase the systolic blood pressure (the upper number) from 5 to 15 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure from 5 to 10 mmHg within the hour of consumption, said Aaron Feingold, MDCardiologist at the JFK University Medical Center.

For people with existing hypertension or other cardiovascular concerns, the effects can be more dangerous, especially if you drink energy drinks every day.

“Regular consumers can develop tolerance for certain acute effects, but a chronic elevation of basic blood pressure often persists,” said Feingold. “The high sugar content contributes to resistance to insulin and weight gain, both independent hypertension risk factors.”

Caffeine content can be problematic

The caffeine levels in energy drinks can vary between 80 and 350 milligrams (MG) per portion, depending on the brand and the size, said Routhenstein.

For comparison, a standard ounce of 8 waves coffee cup Contains approximately 100 mg of caffeine. This means that an energy drink could contain Caffeine like Expresso or more than three cups of coffee.

“This great variation is worrying because many consumers do not know the exact content of the caffeine they consume, and the service sizes are often more important than the standard measures used in caffeine research,” said Feingold.

Energy drinks also have a synthetic caffeine that can be absorbed faster than natural coffee caffeine, Feingold added.

Other ingredients can amplify the effects of caffeine

Energy drinks generally contain more than caffeine. “Many contain additional stimulants such as taurine, guarana and ginseng that can amplify the effects of caffeine on the cardiovascular system,” said Feingold.

According to Routhenstein, the combination of these stimulants and these high sugar contents can help high blood pressure.

Guarana And taurine Can further amplify cardiovascular stress by increasing heart rate, improving the effects of caffeine and uptaking the nervous system.

How many energy drinks is prudent to consume per day?

Unfortunately, there is no unique answer. “Because energy drinks vary considerably in caffeine content and stimulants – and due to their potential health risks – there is no universally sure amount to consume daily,” said Routhenstein.

However, health organizations like the FDA recommend a maximum of 400 milligrams caffeine a day for healthy adults – about the quantity in four small cups of coffee. One or two energy drinks can easily exceed this limit, especially when combined with other caffeinated drinks throughout the day.

In the end, “from the point of view of cardiovascular security, I do not recommend more than one energy drink per day, and preferably,” said Feingold.

“For healthy adults without cardiovascular risk factors, occasional consumption (two to three times a week maximum) of standard energy drinks can be acceptable,” he added.

Are there other heart problems to consider?

“Energy drinks can cause Cardiac palpitations, arrhythmiaAnd an increase in heart rate, especially when consumed in excess or with alcohol and other stimulants, “said Routhenstein.

These irregular cardiac rhythmsOr arrhythmias, can cause complications such as a stroke, even in young adults, she added. There was even Cardiac arrest cases After high consumption of energy drinks, especially when mixed with alcohol or during intense physical activity.

If you suffer from high blood pressure, take heart medication or have underlying hearts, Feingold has recommended that it completely avoid energy drinks.