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Popular drinks linked to heart attacks, cardiac arrest in young adults, study finds
An American Heart Association study found that reports involving drinks and supplements with caffeine or other stimulants more often included serious heart problems than reports involving products without them. The findings matter particularly for young adults: about 45% of the cardiovascular event reports linked to stimulant products involved people aged 18 to 34.
The retrospective analysis examined more than 28,000 FDA reports. Cardiac arrest appeared about 11 times as often in reports involving stimulant products, heart attacks 4.5 times as often, and ventricular arrhythmias or palpitations about four times as often. The study cannot show how common these problems are among all consumers, since it examined reports rather than tracking everyone who used the products; researchers advise watching for symptoms and seeking medical advice, especially with a heart condition or relevant medication.
In short
- Stimulant product reports included cardiac arrest about 11 times as often.
- Around 45% of related cardiovascular reports involved adults aged 18 to 34.
- The report analysis shows an association, not the risk for every consumer.
Explained simply
Caffeine is a stimulant: it can make people feel more alert and can affect heart rate and blood pressure. It is found in coffee and tea, as well as in energy drinks and some supplements; products can differ in how much caffeine or other stimulants they contain.
The US Food and Drug Administration collects reports of possible problems linked to medicines, drinks and supplements. Researchers examined these reports to compare those involving stimulant products with reports involving products without stimulants. Because the records are reports rather than a count of everyone who used each product, they cannot show how likely a consumer is to have a heart problem.
The American Heart Association is a US organisation focused on heart health and research. The findings are relevant to young adults, who made up a substantial share of the reports involving stimulant products, and may help inform discussion of how these products are used and monitored.