Two energy drinks a day 'increases the risk of irregular heartbeats, fast heart rate and chest pain in healthy people'

Drinking more than two energy drinks a day can trigger serious heart problems, experts have warned.

Seventy per cent of patients aged 13 to 40 attending an emergency department in South Australia complaining of heart palpitations had consumed an energy drink, scientists found. Their findings identified a direct link between energy drink consumption and hospital admissions for heart conditions, co-author Dr Scott Willoughby, from the University of Adelaide said.

 'Of the patients surveyed, 36 per cent had consumed at least one energy drink in the 24 hours prior to presenting at hospital, and 70 per cent had consumed some sort of energy drink in their lifetime,' he said.

'Eight of these patients had consumed a large quantity - more than five drinks - with one patient having consumed 12 energy drinks with alcohol.
'Those patients who were heavy consumers of energy drinks were found to have a significantly higher frequency of heart palpitations than those who consumed less than one per day.
'And, importantly, fast heartbeat and heart palpitations were seen in energy drink consumers who were healthy and had no risk factors for heart disease.'

Dr Ian Musgrave, who also took part in the study, said there has been increasing concern that the consumption of energy drinks may lead to harm.
Energy drinks have become enormously popular in the past decade and half are consumed extensively by people who wish to reduce fatigue, increase wakefulness, and improve concentration and performance,' he said.

'In line with the growing popularity and consumption of these drinks, there has been increasing concern among health practitioners and researchers.
'The major stimulant in these drinks is caffeine, which is generally safe when consumed at the recommended levels.
'However, some people appear to be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, and the combination of ingredients in these energy drinks may pose a further threat to those who consume large quantities.
'Different brands of energy drinks contain different ingredients, but most of them combine high levels of caffeine with large quantities of sugar as well as vitamins and herbal extracts.