Drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day will increase the risk of sudden death by 21%! These 6 groups of people need to be vigilant

If you feel sleepy in the afternoon or stay up late to work overtime, how would you choose to replenish your energy in order to maintain your energy and physical strength? I believe that many people will regard functional drinks as a "magic tool for staying up late", which not only quenches thirst but also refreshes the mind.

When you are tired or sleepy, just have a can. But recently there is news online that energy drinks have been banned in foreign countries and many people have died suddenly from them.

Is the truth really so terrible? Nutrition experts believe that people who are sensitive to caffeine, especially those with heart disease, are advised to drink less caffeinated beverages.

People who are sensitive to caffeine may have heart problems

It is reported that in several cases of sudden death from drinking energy drinks in the United States, the cause of death was almost always caffeine poisoning leading to arrhythmia.

For most people, drinking energy drinks can help refresh the mind, and drinking a small can is not a problem. However, for people who are sensitive to caffeine, drinking energy drinks can cause high blood pressure, often causing panic, dizziness, and even nausea, leading to heart discomfort, palpitations, arrhythmia, and a series of other uncomfortable reactions.

Functional drinks abroad are all packaged in large quantities. One can may be more than 500 ml, and two cans may be more than 1000 ml. Intake of a large amount of high caffeine at one time will affect the function of cells in the heart and blood vessels, and induce sudden death and other emergencies.

According to foreign research, drinking more than four cups of coffee a day for a long time will increase the risk of sudden death by 21%.

Drink too much and beware of potassium poisoning

According to the definition of energy drinks by the International Society of Sports Nutrition: Energy drinks are drinks that contain other special substances in addition to general nutrients such as water, carbohydrates (such as glucose, sucrose, maltodextrin, etc.), vitamins, minerals, etc. These special substances are commonly caffeine, taurine, potassium, etc.

In addition to sudden death caused by excessive caffeine intake, excessive potassium intake can also cause harm to the body. Especially for patients who already have chronic kidney disease and hyperkalemia, if they unknowingly consume excessive potassium from functional drinks, with blood potassium levels exceeding 5.5 mmol/l, they may also be at risk of sudden death.

Can I still drink sports drinks?

For fitness enthusiasts, sports drinks are an indispensable companion. Are there any hidden dangers in drinking sports drinks?

The carbohydrates in sports drinks can maintain the body's blood sugar level during exercise, and carbohydrates and sodium will also speed up the body's absorption of water. Drinking sports drinks before, during, or after exercise can replenish electrolytes, vitamins, and sugar. However, sports drinks also contain additives such as sweeteners. Long-term and large-scale drinking will affect insulin levels and have an impact on physical health. Therefore, for general fitness enthusiasts, mineral water rich in minerals is enough.

For those who are not suitable for caffeine intake, it is best not to drink functional drinks. For example, women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, menopausal, adolescents in the developmental stage, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease should try to drink less or no coffee. In addition, patients with chronic kidney disease should also pay attention.

Editor: Li Chenyan Chen Sunjie (Intern)
Editor-in-charge: Tang Wenjia

Source: Xinhuanet, Yangtze Evening News