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With technology being a prominent staple in our youth’s generation, children are constantly viewing ads, commercials, and campaigns that might not be entirely suitable for their age group. When it comes to energy drinks, ads hype up the beverage claiming that it will enhance mental and physical performance, when in fact, these drinks can be deadly for adolescents and teenagers.
Thousands of kids and teenagers have faced serious and potentially deadly side effects after consuming energy drinks. Some of the serious side effects include, seizures, irregular heart rhythms, insomnia or dangerously high blood pressure. The appealing concept of energy drinks gives teenagers the hope that they are going to perform better, when in reality, their bodies can’t handle all the ingredients in the drinks. There have been deaths linked to mixing energy drinks with alcohol, drinking one before a vigorous workout and drinking one after another in order to stay awake.
More deaths have been linked to children who often consumed the beverages without knowing what they were drinking. Researchers found that 40% of the 5,156 calls to poison centers for "energy drink exposure" involved children under age 6.
Energy drinks typically contain high levels of sugar and caffeine. The US Food and Drug Administration does not restrict caffeine in energy drinks, but it limits soda to about 5.4 mg per ounce. An energy drink could contain up to 400 mg of caffeine per serving, which is equivalent to 11 sodas or 4 cups of coffee. Another issue with these “energy-boosting” drinks is the chemical mix of ingredients, ranging from taurine, l-carnitine, amino acids and ginseng. And despite the “special blend” of ingredients, studies suggest energy drinks don’t boost attention any better than a cup of coffee.
Most people aren't aware of energy drinks' potential for dangerous side effects. As a result, parents or siblings may leave the beverages accessible, unknowingly putting young children at risk. There are also no age restrictions to limit sales of energy drinks to youth, so any child or teen can purchase these products without parental knowledge. You may discuss your concerns with a CarolinaEast Pediatric physician during your child’s next appointment.
Sources:
health.usnews.com
livescience.com
standfordchildrens.org
