With stressful jobs that sometimes go beyond the regular eight hours, more and more people have become dependent on energy drinks. However, researchers warn that relying too heavily on these drinks may not be good for the health. According to a feature on MedicalNewsToday.com, energy drinks can “drastically increase blood pressure and disturb the heart’s natural rhythm.”

Experts from the University of the Pacific in Stockton and the David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base in the US, worked with 93 people, whose QT intervals were measured after one to three cans of energy drinks. A QT interval is the span of time the heart takes to finish an electrical cycle.

Results showed that for each can of energy drink that the participants consumed, 10 milliseconds were added to their QT interval. Every millisecond added to a QT interval makes one more prone to drastic increase in blood pressure, as well as arrhythmia, a condition wherein the heart beats irregularly. Children, older adults, and those with health concerns who insist on taking energy drinks are more prone to these side effects.

At one point or another, you may have thanked these uppers for keeping them awake the night before a presentation or a major project. However, it’s important to remember the health risks involved. Keep in mind that consuming large quantities of energy drinks may give short-term solutions, but may also, in return, cause long-term problems.

(Photo by joelklal via Flickr Creative Commons)