Energy drinks may be damaging your heart

Energy drinks jumpstart your heart and give you that jolt you’re looking for, but that’s not a good thing.

Is it the caffeine? No, a recent study reveals that caffeine isn’t the issue. Adverse reactions were found to be caused by:

• Theophylline
• Adenine
• Azelate

What’s happening: Energy drinkers in the study exhibited these effects.

• Higher QT intervals
• Increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure

A QT interval is the time it takes the lower chambers of your heart to prep for a beat. Too short or too long can cause your heart to beat abnormally.

Availability: Energy drinks are not regulated. So, there is no government intervention.

Bottom line: The effects were temporary and not enough to shock the heart. Having a drink once in a while will not kill you. But, you should still be mindful.

• Drinking a large amount in a short period of time should be avoided
• Especially if you have underlying heart issues