奇速英语

过多摄入功能饮料或引发心脏病

Scientists have revealed just how dangerous energy drinks can be, and can cause a sudden heart attack in some cases. While we all probably assumed that the large amounts of caffeine contained in these drinks probably weren’t great for our health, a study has now explored how another common ingredient could be dangerous.

Guarana, a plant containing caffeine, is commonly used in energy drinks and can often lead to unexpected reactions when combined with other ingredients. In the case of energy drinks, guarana is often combined with ginseng(西洋参) or taurine(硫磺酸) to improve flavouring.

A study explained the risk of sudden cardiac(心脏的) events in young people after consuming such drinks. They wrote: “It seems clear that energy drinks might lead to critical events relating to the heart and blood vessels in the young population, even some of which are unable to recover.” The scientists wrote that such drinks can lead to fatal events, with heart attacks often occurring without warning.

A 2021 Australian study, published in the Nutrition Journal, surveyed 8942 students aged from 12 to 17 years old. Of the sample, they found that eight percent of students reported drinking energy drinks at least once a week, while one in four students had consumed energy drinks at least once.

While a study of a 21-year-old UK man was published in BMJ Case Reports in 2021, who had unexpectedly been experiencing kidney failure(肾衰竭). The report stated: “There was no significant past medical history and he had no family history of heart attacks.” However, the man had explained he had been drinking four 500 ML energy drinks a day for approximately two years—with each drink containing 160 mg of caffeine. The study added: “Given the history of long-term energy drink consumption, lack of significant past medical or family history, cardiac imaging(心脏影像) findings and improvement with ceasing intake, energy drink-caused cardiotoxicity(心脏毒性) was felt to be the most likely cause.”