For many sleep-deprived people constantly on the go, caffeine and energy drinks are almost always a must just to get through a long day. And for the most part, they seem harmless. But a recent report in the Frontiers in Public Health journal indicates that health consequences of energy drinks are dire. Habits of consuming large amounts of caffeine and energy-boosting beverages causes dangerous health effects and should be more closely regulated, especially among children.
In the report, researchers concluded that drinking high levels of caffeine in a short period of time can cause negative health effects such as high blood pressure, nausea, dehydration, heart palpitations and, in some cases, death from cardiac arrest.
Such adverse effects have prompted health officials across the globe to reconsider the regulations on these highly marketed products. And considering the fact that young adults are a major advertising target for energy drink companies, it’s important to advocate further caution and stricter policies on their distribution. Various European countries have already banned the sale of energy drinks to children, and groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) are making strides to enforce tighter policies and standards for the sale of caffeine-rich drinks in more countries.
With the increasing amount of children and young adults exposed to energy drinks, the negative effects pose too much of a risk and threat for their current and future health and safety. For this reason, the WHO is pushing for further research and stricter policies on the sale and distribution of caffeinated beverages.
Read more about the report here.
