Table of contents:
- Energy drinks make the heart beat, is it normal?
- How come?
- What is the safe limit for drinking energy drinks in a day?
You will certainly find it very easy to find energy drinks, akaenergy drink at shops nearby. Usually, this drink is used as a mainstay for men to increase stamina and speed up recovery when the body feels tired. But after drinking it, you may often feel your heart beating fast, aka beating suddenly. So, is this normal? Here's the explanation.
Energy drinks make the heart beat, is it normal?
Most energy drinks contain caffeine, taurine, guaran, and various other stimulants. Well, the content of these substances makes your body fresher, more powerful, and full of stamina. It also makes the brain more focused and aware of the environment.
Even though it looks beneficial, you may not realize that this type of drink is actually a lot of harm to the body. Especially in the caffeine content.
When compared to a cup of coffee, energy drinks actually contain 5 times more caffeine. In fact, just drinking a cup of coffee sometimes makes your heart pound. Imagine if you consume 5 cups of coffee at once, the effect will certainly be much worse than that.
Caffeine is declared safe if consumed in small amounts, for example in a glass of tea or coffee. However, if the caffeine content is more than 400 milligrams (mg), then this can be dangerous for your health.
Not only does it irritate the body's nervous system, most caffeine also makes your heart beat abnormally. The heart feels fast and irregular. In medical terms, this condition is called an arrhythmia.
How come?
A cardiologist at the University of North Carolina Health Care in the United States, Kevin R. Campbell, MD, revealed that a racing heart due to drinking energy drinks is not just an ordinary pounding sensation. However, if allowed to continue, this condition can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and even life-threatening.
It doesn't take long for the energy drink to enter the bloodstream. In just about 15-45 minutes after consuming an energy drink, your blood pressure and heart rate will start to increase.
According to a study published in the journal The Annals of Pharmacotherapy in 2009, the average person who has drunk energy drinks will experience an increase in heart rate of 5-7 beats per minute.
Apart from caffeine, the taurine content in energy drinks can also overload the heart. Taurine contains sulfur and protein which, when accumulated in the body, will make it difficult for the kidneys to filter it.
The more taurine in the body, the more calcium will accumulate in the heart. As a result, your heartbeat becomes irregular and can trigger a heart attack, even sudden cardiac death (sudden cardiac death).
What is the safe limit for drinking energy drinks in a day?
Normally, the heart beats 60-100 beats per minute at rest. If your heart rate is faster than 100 beats per minute, you should avoid drinking energy drinks for a while. Especially if you have heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension).
Before drinking energy drinks, first look at the caffeine content on the packaging. Most energy drinks contain 120-200 mg of caffeine, but some are as high as 300-500 mg per can.
Unfortunately, not all energy drinks include the amount of caffeine on the packaging. In fact, you have to limit your caffeine intake to 400 mg a day so that it is safe for the body.
As a solution, replace energy drinks with water to treat dehydration. Instead of making your body fresh, caffeinated drinks actually make you lose a lot of water.
Apart from preventing dehydration, drinking water can also help flush out toxic substances that have accumulated in the body. So, drink lots of water after exercise so that the body remains healthy and prime.
If your heart is beating irregularly and accompanied by excessive anxiety, consult a doctor immediately.
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