Having An Energy Drink
It doesn’t matter how many you haveenergy drinks are hardly a healthy choice, and consuming them regularly is one of the drinking habits shortening your life. According to Mayo Clinic research, knocking back just one 16-ounce energy drink can significantly increase your blood pressure as well as stress hormone responses. And previous studies have indicated that energy drinks are particularly harmful when you mix them with alcohol.
“In previous research, we found that energy drink consumption increased blood pressure in healthy young adults,” says co-author Dr. Anna Svatikova. “We now show that the increases in blood pressure are accompanied by increases in norepinephrine, a stress hormone chemical, and this could predispose an increased risk of cardiac events even in healthy people.”
Instead of reaching for one of those sugar-laden energy drinks, Mayo suggests trying to get quality sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and increasing physical activity to naturally boost your energy levels. Unsweetened green or black tea is another viable optionboth will give you a dose of caffeine without the sugar, and studies show they might even reduce your blood pressure.
Drinking This Just Once Increases Your Heart Disease Risk Warns Mayo Clinic
You already know that what you put in your body matters, and that less healthy foods and drinks should be consumed in moderation. However, Mayo Clinic experts warn that there’s one popular beverage that could put you at serious health riskeven in the smallest amounts. In fact, even a single serving may put you at an elevated risk of heart disease. Read on to find out which type of drink is setting off alarm bells for medical professionals.
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Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Women’s Risk Of Heart Disease Increased During The Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic affected people in numerous ways. For many women, it added layers of complexity.
The quarantine period forced millions to stay home, work from home, take on the role of teacher and supervise their children’s education. Those added layers also meant women lost time taking care of themselves. And many women continue to take on those challenges.
These are just some of the reasons that may explain why women’s risk of cardiovascular disease increasedand why it is important to make changes, says Dr. Mayra Guerrero, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist.
For many women, their complex roles during the COVID-19 pandemic as mothers, teachers and remote workers brought on not only emotional stress, but also physical stress.
“Stress by itself can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and sometimes even trigger a heart attack,” says Dr. Guerrero.But that added stress is not the only factor.
“A poor diet can also be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease or lack of exercise,” she says.
Raising awareness is a priority for Dr. Guerrero.
“Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women and men around the world. However, many women do not know that,” says Dr. Guerrero.
Dr. Guerrero says you cannot control your age or your DNA, but you can have some control over your cholesterol level, blood pressure and lifestyle choices.
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Monitor Your Blood Pressure At Home And See Your Doctor Regularly
Home monitoring can help you keep tabs on your blood pressure, make certain your lifestyle changes are working, and alert you and your doctor to potential health complications. Blood pressure monitors are available widely and without a prescription. Talk to your doctor about home monitoring before you get started.
Regular visits with your doctor are also key to controlling your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is well-controlled, check with your doctor about how often you need to check it. Your doctor may suggest checking it daily or less often. If youre making any changes in your medications or other treatments, your doctor may recommend you check your blood pressure starting two weeks after treatment changes and a week before your next appointment.
Fda Guidelines Say Up To Four 8 Oz Cups Of Coffee Are Safe For Most Healthy Adults To Consume Every Day
The pandemic ushered in many lifestyle changes as a large number of us began working remotely, sheltered in place or made other modifications to our daily routines. We kept a firm grip on our coffee cups throughout it all, according to research released recently from the National Coffee Association.
Restrictions may have slowed down business at the local coffee shop, but that didnt stop us from getting our daily caffeine fix. Nearly 85% of coffee drinkers report they have at least one cup of coffee a day at home with most enjoying a second cup. Consumption is also rising as people turn to caffeine to help battle pandemic fatigue and burnout.
For many people, caffeine is an integral part of the day. Its a quick pick-me-up in the morning or a way to boost energy during an afternoon slump. But what is it? And how is it affecting your health?
Our What You Drink series helps answer those questions. The first article in the series took a good look at the amount of liquid sugar hiding in your favorite beverages. This month we spill the beans about caffeine and its effect on your health.
Does #caffeine play a prominent role in your daily routine? Share how your habits have changed during the pandemic with readers @providence.
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Drinking Energy Drinks While Exercising Also Increases Your Stroke Risk
While a higher risk of heart disease should be reason enough to find a new favorite beverage, experts say there’s another reason to be wary of energy drinks. “Energy drinks have megadoses of caffeine and sometimes other stimulants. We find that some people who use them come into the hospital with strokes or severe brain hemorrhages,” rheumatologist Rula Hajj-Ali, MD told the Cleveland Clinic.
“These results suggest that people should be cautious when consuming energy drinks due to possible health risks,”Anna Svatikova, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiology fellow and the first author of the study, said via press release. “Asking patients about energy drink consumption should become routine for physicians.”
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Filtered Coffee Is A Better Choice
A study published in 2018 tracked how much coffee people 18 to 24 drank in the course of a week and compared it to their cholesterol levels. The researchers found that the more espresso-based drinks the participants drank, the higher their cholesterol.
Espresso is brewed by having hot water shot directly into fine coffee grounds, rather than dripping slowly through a filter the way most household coffee makers do it. The result is coffee that has higher levels of the two cholesterol-raising compounds. Other similar methods where grinds and water come in direct contact include boiled coffee, coffee made from French-presses, Turkish coffee, and the increasingly popular pour-over method.
On the other hand, filters like the kind used in your local diner or your house in the morning reduce the amount of those oils in the coffee. The researchers concluded that their results are important, given how much coffee Americans enjoy, and that more research needs to be done. Commenting on the research, experts recommended that those folks who want to lower or prevent high cholesterol stick to filtered coffee.
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Limit The Amount Of Alcohol You Drink
Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. By drinking alcohol only in moderation generally one drink a day for women, or two a day for men you can potentially lower your blood pressure by about 4 mm Hg. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.
But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol.
Drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.
Can High Blood Pressure Affect Pregnancy
High blood pressure complicates about 10% of all pregnancies. There are several different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy and they range from mild to serious. The forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:
Chronic hypertension: High blood pressure which is present before pregnancy.
Gestational hypertension: High blood pressure in the latter part of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia: This is a dangerous condition that typically develops in the latter half of pregnancy and results in hypertension, protein in the urine and generalized swelling in the pregnant person. It can affect other organs in the body and cause seizures .
Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia: Pregnant people who have chronic hypertension are at increased risk for developing preeclampsia.
Your provider will check your blood pressure regularly during prenatal appointments, but if you have concerns about your blood pressure, be sure to talk with your provider.
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What Is High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. When you have hypertension , it means the pressure against the blood vessel walls in your body is consistently too high. High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because you may not be aware that anything is wrong, but the damage is still occurring within your body.
Your blood pressure reading has two numbers. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure on the blood vessel walls when your heart beats or contracts. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure on your blood vessels between beats when your heart is relaxing.
For example, a blood pressure of 110/70 is within the normal range, but a blood pressure of 135/85 is stage 1 hypertension, and so on .
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Mayo Clinic Study: One Energy Drink May Increase Heart Disease Risk In Young Adults
ORLANDO, Fla. New research shows that drinking one 16-ounce energy drink can increase blood pressure and stress hormone responses significantly. This raises the concern that these response changes could increase the risk of cardiovascular events, according to a study presented today at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2015. The findings also are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In previous research, we found that energy drink consumption increased blood pressure in healthy young adults, says Anna Svatikova, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiology fellow and the first author. We now show that the increases in blood pressure are accompanied by increases in norepinephrine, a stress hormone chemical, and this could predispose an increased risk of cardiac events even in healthy people.
Mayo Clinic researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study on 25 healthy volunteers with an average age of 29. Each participant consumed a 16-ounce energy drink and placebo drink within five minutes, in random order, on two separate days, with a maximum of two weeks apart. The placebo drink was similar in taste, texture and color, but lacked caffeine and other stimulants of the energy drink, such as taurine, guarana and ginseng.
MEDIA CONTACT: Traci Klein, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-990-1182, Klein.traci@mayo.edu
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Having A Lot Of Caffeinated Drinks If You Already Have High Blood Pressure
The connection between caffeine and high blood pressure is still debated. However, Mayo Clinic states that caffeine can cause a short-term but dramatic increase in blood pressure and may also result in increases over the long-term. This effect happens even if you don’t have high blood pressure, but is especially important to be aware of if you already are watching your blood pressure levels.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
According to Mayo Clinic, this effect could be due to the fact that either caffeine triggers your body to release more adrenaline . Or, it could be that caffeine may block a certain hormone that helps to keep your arteries widened.
However, it’s important to note that the effect may be more significant if you consume caffeine rarely.
“Some people who regularly drink caffeinated beverages have a higher average blood pressure than do those who drink none,” Mayo Clinic states. “Others who regularly drink caffeinated beverages develop a tolerance to caffeine. As a result, caffeine doesn’t have a long-term effect on their blood pressure.”
If you have high blood pressure, Mayo Clinic advises limiting your caffeine consumption to 22 milligrams a day max and asking your doctor whether you should avoid caffeinated drinks entirely.
Rethink Your Energy Drink: Beware Of Extreme Caffeine
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People love their caffeine, whether its coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks. With all of the different energy drinks on the market, you might be getting a much bigger caffeine buzz than you realize. There are extra vitamins and minerals in energy drinks, raising their caffeine level.
Consuming too much caffeine isnt good for your body. Heres why:
- Increases heart rate and blood pressure
- Makes you shaky and nervous
- Makes brain and heart work harder
Energy drinks have multiple sources of caffeine, but are often listed under other ingredients. Many times, these ingredients are lumped together and called an energy blend on the label, but its really just extra caffeine. When you add up the amount of caffeine in one energy drink, it can equal up to at least five times the amount of caffeine found in one cup of coffee.
Instead of choosing energy drinks as your source of caffeine, try these alternatives:
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Even Young Healthy Individuals Can Experience The Worst Outcomes
Anyone can suffer from a serious health event after consuming energy drinksincluding those who are considered young and otherwise healthy. This is of particular concern because, according to recent studies, young people are “flocking” to the beverage. “Estimates indicate that about 30 percent of teenagers between the ages of 12 through 17 years in the United States consume energy drinks on a regular basis, which have been linked to increased emergency room visits and death,” notes the American Heart Association .
Kate O’Dell, PharmD, professor of pharmacy and co-author of the Mayo Clinic study, agrees that young people are a high-risk demographic, thanks to their frequent consumption of the beverage. “Energy drinks are readily accessible and commonly consumed by a large number of teens and young adults, including college students,” she explained to AHA. “Understanding how these drinks affect the heart is extremely important,” she said.
Having Just One Energy Drink Can Put You At Increased Risk Of Heart Disease
Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar are some of the most popular packed drinks in the U.S., and their sales are only poised to increase. But the Mayo Clinic warns that these beverages can have serious side effectseven after drinking just one 16-ounce can.
Mayo Clinic researchers recruited 25 healthy volunteers with an average age of 29 to participate in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. “Each participant consumed a 16-ounce energy drink and placebo drink within five minutes, in random order, on two separate days, with a maximum of two weeks apart,” the Mayo Clinic shared via press release. “The placebo drink was similar in taste, texture and color, but lacked caffeine and other stimulants of the energy drink, such as taurine, guarana and ginseng,” the researchers explained. The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, ultimately linked the consumption of energy drinks with elevated blood pressure and a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
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Mayo Clinic: 10 Ways To Control High Blood Pressure Without Medication
If youve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you might be worried about taking medication to bring your numbers down.
Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you might avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure and keep it down.
What Can I Expect If I Have This Condition
Since high blood pressure doesnt cause many symptoms at first, you probably wont feel any different with a high blood pressure diagnosis. But its important to follow your providers instructions to bring your blood pressure down so it doesnt cause serious illnesses later in life.
How long does high blood pressure last?
If you have primary high blood pressure, youll need to control it for the rest of your life.
If you have secondary high blood pressure, your blood pressure will most likely come down after you receive treatment for the medical problem that caused it. If a medication caused your high blood pressure, switching to a different medicine may lower your blood pressure.
What is the outlook for high blood pressure?
You can get seriously ill if you dont treat your high blood pressure. However, if you take the medicines your provider ordered, you can control your blood pressure. Exercising and eating healthy foods also helps lower your blood pressure.
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When To Consult A Doctor
If a person monitors their blood pressure at home and does not see lower readings despite implementing lifestyle changes, they should contact a medical professional. Doctors can help to determine the underlying cause of their high blood pressure.
A person should seek immediate medical attention if they have two readings of 180/120 mm Hg or higher within 5 minutes, especially if they are experiencing a headache or nosebleed.
Doctors do not associate increased diastolic blood pressure with cardiovascular events in younger individuals.
However, increases in diastolic pressure in those aged
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- Bae, E. H., et al. . Chronic kidney disease risk of isolated systolic or diastolic hypertension in young adults: A nationwide sample based-cohort Study.