Although the heart rate and blood pressure increases observed in this study were not dangerous for healthy volunteers, healthy adults who drank two cans of a popular energy drink a day had above normal blood pressure and heart rate.
Dr. James Kalus, senior manager of Patient Care Services at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and colleagues told the Health Day news that the drinks could be dangerous to patients with heart disease.
Drinking more than two cans a day led to even higher increases, to healthy people too, it was found. Researchers have now advised people with high blood pressure and heart rate to "avoid these drinks."
Unlike "sports" drinks, energy drinks contain water, sugar and salts with high levels of caffeine and taurine. Taurine is an amino acid found in protein foods like meat and fish, which like caffeine, has been shown to increase blood pressure and heart rate.
Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Both numbers are important.
Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. The good news is that it can be treated and controlled.
