College students have a penchant for trading known risks for quick fixes, and despite a recent survey by the American Heart Association saying energy drinks may increase blood pressure and disturb the heart’s rhythm, many University students say they use energy drinks as a way to get a speedy boost.
The report, which also stated “consuming energy drinks may increase the chances of developing an abnormal heart rhythm,” follows a report published earlier this year by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that revealed emergency room visits doubled because of energy drinks between 2007 and 2011 from 10,068 to 20,783.
The SAMHSA report concluded that 30 to 50 percent of children, adolescents and young adults have consumed energy drinks. Caffeine content in each drink ranges from 80 to more than 500 milligrams, as compared to 100 milligrams in a 5-ounce cup of coffee.
Business management senior Danny McInnis said he drinks Red Bull from time to time, even though he sees energy drinks as somewhat of a health risk.
“With the caffeine percentage in most of them, they’re probably not good for you,” he said.
McInnis also said he believes energy drinks are being used similarly to drugs students use to help them study: as a way to stay focused and pay attention, sometimes late at night.
Registered dietitian Vanessa Richard also noted the increased health risks associated with energy drinks.
“Often times, energy drinks have a high amount of caffeine or an undisclosed amount of caffeine,” she said. The high levels of caffeine may cause an irregular or fast heart rate as well as distress to the digestive system, she said.
She said a common issue with energy drinks is the rapid consumption because they are easier to drink than coffee or tea. Richard also said she has concerns with energy shots and tabs that introduce a concentrated amount to the body almost instantly.
Mechanical engineering senior Austin Hall said he also uses energy drinks when he is trying to stay up late to study.
“I feel like they are bad for you, but sometimes caffeine — you want some,” he said.
Hall added he normally gets a vodka and Red Bull as his first drink of the night when going out.
“Red Bull makes you think faster, it sharpens your mind, too,” he said. “When getting drunk, I need to feel like I’m not as drunk.”
The SAMHSA report indicated 42 percent of emergency room visits because of energy drinks included other drugs, such as alcohol.
Richard said mixing energy drinks and alcohol is not healthy for the body. She said the alcohol is a depressant and the energy drink acts as a stimulant, creating conflicting reactions in the body.
“One is elevating the heart rate, one is lowering. One is stimulating the brain, one is depressing it,” she said.
Richard also said energy drinks may create perceived soberness which could be dangerous as someone’s motor skills and judgment will still be impaired.
Biology freshman Allison D’Antoni said she usually chooses coffee instead of energy drinks. D’Antoni said she believes energy drinks are unhealthy because of the large amount of sugar and increased heart risks.
“An occasional one is OK, but it can be dangerous to have too many,” she said.
Richard said she would discourage the use of energy drinks and advise getting caffeine from a more natural form such as coffee or tea. Richard said it is also important for people to be informed consumers and know how caffeine affects them.
“Red Bull makes you think faster, it sharpens your mind, too.”
