Medical Minutes: The hidden dangers of energy drinks
Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – From long work days to tough workouts, energy drinks have become a go-to for many people trying to boost their stamina, but they may be doing more harm than good, especially in our desert heat.
Dr. Donald Hubbard, Medical Director and Emergency Medicine Physician at Exceptional Community Hospital, says there are many hidden dangers when it comes to energy drinks.
“Energy drinks have a lot of different ingredients and a lot of them are proprietary to the different brands, but the main thing they have is caffeine. Caffeine is can be helpful, but energy drinks tend to have a lot of caffeine. I think anything is good in moderation. I wouldn’t say absolutely don’t ever drink an energy drink, but it probably doesn’t need to be the only thing you drink throughout the day,” says Dr. Hubbard.
Hubbard says its especially important to watch you caffeine intact because it can make your heart rate go up.
“When we see people in the emergency room that have drank several energy drinks, what we usually see is a rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure,” explained Hubbard.
Hubbard also mentions symptoms that suggest you may need to be seen.
“I would say if you start to get real jittery, you start to get anxious, if you notice your heart is pounding, those are signs that you may want to get seen,” he said.