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Newsletters for Mental Health
Theresa Trenier, Intern Counselor, MSOE Counseling Services
January 2007
There are many different trends for food and entertainment that wehave seen over the years. Some trends prove timeless, like champagneat New Year’s Eve, whereas some are gone as quickly as they began. Acurrent trend gaining popularity is energy drinks. These highlycaffeinated, sugary sweet drinks are everywhere, from the stores to TVshows to the bars and they are very popular on many college campuses. Many people are coming to rely on the energy jolt that they get fromthese drinks; yet they do not realize the hazards of this sweet habit.
Yes, energy drinks will give you a boost of energy, but it won’t last. Energy drinks contain very high amounts of sugar and caffeine, which inhigh amounts can be dangerous. Studies have found that caffeineincreases heart rate, which over time can increase the stroke and heartdisease (1). Over consumption of caffeine can also lead tonervousness, irritability, and insomnia (3) and has been associatedwith birth defects in pregnant women. Additional researchers haveshown that consuming large quantities of sugar is likely to causeweight gain (3), where it would it would likely take an average person15–20 minutes to burn off the 110 calories in one can of Red Bull (5).
Many people are not aware of these risks with some of themarketing claims that these drinks claim to make. Certain energydrinks claim to increase performance, concentration, reaction speed,vigilance, emotional status, and metabolism (2), yet are unfounded andwithout support. Conversely, energy drinks can sometimes even have theopposite effects of their claims, like fatigue and dehydration (4).
Another popular trend is to mix these energy drinks with alcohol. Many like the taste, where other myths claim that mixing energy drinkswith alcohol with speed up intoxication. However, research has foundthat no one really knows how the combination of ingredients in energydrinks will affect the human body (2). Many people report electrolytedisturbances, nausea, vomiting and heart irregularities when mixingalcohol with energy drinks (4). This combination of a stimulant(energy drink) and a depressant (alcohol) can have dangerous effects(7). According to Texas A & M University,
“The stimulant effects can mask how intoxicated you are and prevent you from realizing how much alcohol you have consumed. Fatigue is one of the ways the body normally tells someone that they’ve had enough to drink. The stimulant effect can give the person the impression they aren’t impaired. No matter how alert you feel, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the same as it would be without the energy drink. Once the stimulant effect wears off, the depressant effects of the alcohol will remain and could cause vomiting in your sleep or respiratory depression” (5).
The dangerous consequences from this form of entertainment can beavoided if people drink responsibly, not just with alcohol, but withenergy drinks as well. Enjoy them in moderation and try more naturalsources of vitamins and minerals as part of a healthy diet.
For more information about the hazards of energy drinks, check out the following links:
- http://www.mercola.com/1998/archive/caffeine_elevates_heart_rate.htm
- http://www.mercola.com/2004/jun/9/energy_drinks.htm
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/energy-drinks/AN01303
- http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/prod/energy-energie_e.html
- http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/10/sugar_birth_defects.htm
- http://preventdisease.com/news/articles/energy_drink_alcohol_not_invigorating.shtml
MSOE Counseling Services creates monthly newsletters on mental health concerns and psychological issues. You can view the complete list of downloadable Counseling Services Newsletters.
MSOE Counseling Services is located on the second floor of the Kern Center (K-230). To schedule an appointment with a counselor, call (414) 277-7590 or visit the Counseling Services homepage.