Energy drinks causing heart issues in kids and teens

May 15, 2024, 6:02 PM | Updated: May 16, 2024, 10:17 am

KOSI 101.1

The energy drink business is booming and expected to reach $33 Billion in sales by 2030. A shift in marketing strategies in 2017 now targets young people as the consumers.

These drinks can contain anywhere from 200 mg to 350 mg of caffeine, and the large amounts of caffeine in these drinks can cause significant health problems, especially in teens and adolescents, health experts say.

Dr. Cristina Font, cardiology fellow physician at University of Florida Health Jacksonville, caffeine has a number of side effects but the cardiovascular risks of excessive caffeine consumption can be significant.

“A lot of patients come to me with complaints of palpitation and chest pains,” said Font. “You come to realize these patients are drinking multiple energy drinks a day, ” Font said.

Melissa DeVincentis, a physician assistant at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale said that she sees a teenagers after drinking energy drinks once or twice a week in the ER.

Energy drink brands often associate themselves with video games and online celebrities, and are also promoted by influencers on platforms like Twitch, where 70% of the viewers are ages 18-34. Many popular creators either endorse or collaborate with these brands who want to leverage the influencers’ young audience.

The dangers INCREASE for kids already on medication.

“A lot of children and adolescents are on psychoactive medications, for example ADHD medications, or people with asthma who are taking inhalers are also at risk; those inhalers have stimulant effects,” said Font. “When you start combining stimulants, those cardiovascular effects can get more dangerous.”

If you have teenagers or children please discuss with them the dangers of energy drinks. Learn more below.