New study highlights heart health risks of energy drinks

New research has underlined the oft-underestimated heart problems associated with an excessive consumption of energy drinks.

Presented at this week's European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual congress, the study analysed adverse events associated with the consumption of the 103 energy drinks available in France – sales of which have increased considerably in recent years.

It was observed that caffeine syndrome was the most common problem, resulting in a fast heart rate, tremors, anxiety and headaches. Rare but severe events such as sudden or unexplained death, arrhythmia and heart attack were also associated with the drinks.

As such, the study recommended that such drinks never be consumed in conjunction with physical exercise, while also warning that drinking such products recreationally can also be a risk.

Professor Milou-Daniel Drici, who presented the study at the ESC congress, said: "Doctors should warn patients with cardiac conditions about the potential dangers of these drinks and ask young people in particular whether they consume such drinks on a regular basis or through binge drinking."

This comes after a study from the University of Bonn last year revealed that caffeinated energy drinks can intensify heart contractions.