Heat Safety Risk with Energy Drinks
For those who participate in outdoor activities or work in the heat, beware of consuming energy drinks. Drinking these sugary concoctions potentially raises the risk of heat illness because drinking highly caffeinated beverages can promote dehydration. Typically loaded with caffeine, a diuretic, the beverages can sap the water bodies need to perspire and maintain a healthy metabolic temperature.
Top 10 ingredients in energy drinks:
- Taurine (amino acid)
- Guarana (more caffeine)
- Ginseng (energy boost, also lowers blood sugar)
- Green Tea Extract(more caffeine)
- Green Coffee Extract(more caffeine)
- Ginkgo Biloba (fights mental fatigue)
- Carnitine (promotes fat burning)
The dangers of drinking to many energy drinks at one time include:
- Cardiac Arrest - for those with underlying heart conditions. This is due to the ingredients causing more forceful heart contractions.
- Headaches and migraines - this is due to caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
- Increased anxiety - for those with Anxiety history.
- Insomnia - when abused these drinks can cause people to miss sleep, and in turn causes impaired functioning and is dangerous for safety sensitive environments.
- Type 2 Diabetes - because many energy drinks are very high in sugar, they can eventually wear out the insulin producing cells which lead to Type 2 diabetes.
- Drug interaction - some ingredients can interact with prescription medications, especially those taken for depression.
- Addiction - people can become addicted to energy drinks, and this can cause various health problems.
- Jitters and nervousness - this is due to the increase in caffeine.
- High blood pressure - caffeinated products can elevate a person’s blood pressure, where underlying blood pressure problems exist the effects can be detrimental.
- Niacin Overdose - because this is a common ingredient, persons taking vitamin supplements with Niacin as an ingredient can cause an overdose and make you very sick.
The Work Health Organizations Warning:
Dangers that energy drinks pose to young people is concerning since 68% of adolescents consume them. They recommend that:
- A caffeine upper limit be established
- Enforce labeling requirements and sales restrictions to minors
- Enforce regulation of the industry to responsibly market products
- Train health care workers to recognize and treat overdose
- Screen patients with a history of substance abuse for heavy consumption of energy drinks
- Educate the public about the dangers of consumption and mixing energy drinks with alcohol
- Consume in Moderation, moderation is key as with anything
Stay Hydrated to Beat the Heat
The healthiest liquid for your body is water, there is no better substitute. Before working in the heat, start to hydrate the night before and continue throughout the day. If you wait until you are thirsty then you are too late. Limit the amounts of caffeine intake and be extremely cautious with energy drinks.
Please also refer to site safety rules for the areas in which we work, as policies vary for heat illness prevention and some may prohibit the use of Energy Drinks. As always your safety is of the utmost importance, you have the right and responsibility to stop work that is unsafe!