William Atkins
Sunday, 28 September 2008 22:29
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 3
According to a new Johns Hopkins study, researchers are recommending warning labels on energy drinks, such as the first energy drink Red Bull introduced in the United States, because the super-caffeinated drinks could cause overdose symptoms such as heart palpitations and insomnia.
American behavioral biologist
Roland Griffiths,
professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine (Baltimore, Maryland) is the lead author of a new
report on energy drinks.
Dr. Griffiths states,
"Many of these drinks do not label the caffeine content." Within the WebMD article “
Energy Drinks: Hazardous to Your Health,” it is being reported that
“some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as found in 14 cans of soda.”
The drug caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. It is found
naturally in coffee, tea, and chocolate. Caffeine is placed artifically
into colas, other soft drinks, energy drinks, and other products as an
additional ingredient.
Overdosing of caffeine is called caffeine intoxication. It is a
recognized clinical syndrome, which includes such symptoms as anxiety,
restlessness, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, rapid heartbeat, and
other similar actions. Caffeine intoxication can cause death, but only
in rare instances.
The Mayo Clinic, located in Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A., writes about the syndrome in its online article “
Caffeine: How much is too much?.”
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