Energy Drinks Or Poison?
By Artemeis
@artemeis (4194)
China
January 18, 2013 1:48am CST
Studies from a survey of U.S. hospitals by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said that the number of emergency-room visits linked to energy drinks had doubled in four years - from 10,000 in 2007 to 20,000 in 2011. Of the 20,000 ER visits in 2011, 42 percent had mixed the energy drink with another stimulant such as Adderal or Ritalin or with alcohol. 58% had consumed just the drink.
Startling facts and alarming statistics but yet the authorities are seemingly sitting behind the desks arguing about it while it is still affecting innocent consumers and users outside. I don't see why they can't be removed from the shelf or administered under advisement or attention of the pharmacists and not be sold like some kind of refreshment drinks.
I think this is one of those areas that put the administration in bad light and I really hope they step up here. If this is happening in America, I don't think the rest of the world would be any different. Time to be wary.
11 responses
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
20 Jan 13
Everything you use too much is poison. Same with water. Enery drink is poison because of the taurine in it. Normally speaking people do not need it and it´s easy to overdose it. Many children 8-10 years old over here are already drinking it too. I wonder why parents allow this.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
21 Jan 13
In TCM (traditional Chinese Medicine)terminology there's a certain chapter that talks about certain harmful toxins or poisonous herbs that when ingested alone can be fatal e.g. snake venom but when complemented with certain other herbs or natural resources can actually neutralize the harmful effects and bring about cures and benefits to one's health and well being.
As for the children issue, I don't think parents can be blamed entirely when these drinks are available like any other soft drinks in the convenience stores, supermarkets and in some cases, even school canteens. So what happens outside parental purview is totally uncontrollable when these drinks can be seemingly "harmless" sweet.
@AgentGulaman (3546)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
Whoa! This is quite alarming. I have been a consistent energy drink consumer. Might as well get back to the natural drinking water. But come to think of it. I must therefore scrutinize the contents of the energy drink that I am consuming then.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
21 Jan 13
I am wondering if you are drinking Gatorade or similar which is a milder form of energy drink. It would be wise to be discerning by checking on the actual compositions of these drinks before you let it into your system and cut down so that you will be able to lower the risks on your health.
Also, dental health researchers have advise that you should take a swig of plain water together with your energy drinks I mentioned earlier to prevent the drinks from destroying your teeth. Because besides the high sugar contents there are the acids present in these drinks.
Ref:
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20120503/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-teeth
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/02/151868879/energy-drinks-can-take-teeth-on-an-irreversible-acid-trip
@amybrezik (2118)
• United States
18 Jan 13
I watched a news story on this. I am sure that there is some truth to it. However, the health professional that was interviewed said that it was not as common as the media makes it out to be. The media has to get ratings just like any other show. When they are low on ratings they need some sort of story to help out and they single something out. A few years ago it was shark attacks. They made it seem as though the number of shark attacks had increased when in fact it had not, there were just more attacks being reported on. I myself do not drink energy drinks often, and I do think that people should be wary and careful when consuming them. They are like anything else and should be drank in moderation. There are bad chemicals in them that can affect you negatively. People get addicted to them just like other substances. I think that the media is doing a good thing by making the public aware. However, I do think that it has been blown a bit out of proportion.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
18 Jan 13
I think we forget that the fact that the media can be held accountable by the law for exaggerating or falsifying or even fabricate such news and cause public panic. Ratings aside but I think the media will face ramifications from the law and the energy drink companies.
Also, I don't think any of the shark attacks are fabrications when there are maimed victims to prove. I find this interviewee to be like the relevant authorities that are all sitting behind their desks deliberating and shrugging their responsibilities on this issue. I am sure those figures and the hospitals do not lie.
Ref:
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2013/01/energy-drinks-et.html
@vandana7 (100531)
• India
18 Jan 13
That is indeed shocking statistics. I remember, I was asked by one of my former colleagues to sell Amway products. I was fine with most, i.e., soaps, and powder. However, anything that had to be taken orally was objectionable. I told my friend look just like you are my friend, others are too. I wouldnt like to harm one friend for another. Nor take any commission by harming any of my friends. The friend would help me far more than the measly commission I would get from the deal. I dont think she understood, but I definitely didnt want any of my friends to be eating those products. After all, if they had any health problems, whom would they approach or sue?
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
18 Jan 13
Unlike health supplements which have undergone extensive research and quality control, these health drinks are already failing whatever market tests available - and we see the authorities and lawmakers taking a backseat of things. I simply refuse to believe that the US government to be so innate.
Thousands have already been hospitalized and a couple thousands dying from it - I don't know what more they (authorities) want to pull these poisons off the shelves.
Read more:
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2013/01/energy-drinks-et.html
@rhoiena (109)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
Energy drink is not good for the health. Our body need to rest, but since people are too busy doing volume of work, and they think 24 hours is lack of time so they use drink energy drink to moved even they tired, and come to this point they are sick.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
18 Jan 13
The fact that even you are aware of the dangers of these energy drinks, I do not really know what is holding the lawmakers back in the US from taking preventive actions on these fatal drinks or otherwise poison off the shelves.
They have everything working for them to validate their course of actions but instead are all taking a backseat in their offices arguing and contemplating on the next course of action or God knows what - while the public are getting themselves a possibility to make a reality appearance into ER.
What is wrong with them (lawmakers)?
Read:
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2013/01/energy-drinks-et.html
@MaylaJay (349)
•
18 Jan 13
I read something that said energy drinks were giving middle school/high school kids cancer, but that was a year ago. I don't know how accurate any of that was, but it got me thinking: do we even know what is in these drinks? I don't drink energy drinks, because I still have my natural energy. I actually think the ones that drink energy drinks have less energy.
1 person likes this
@agent807 (751)
• United States
21 Jan 13
Unfortunately, with our fast pace and high intensity society, people are consuming these things as if it is water, just to keep going and to keep pace. It's not worth your health to consume so many energy drinks and shots, as well as putting your job ahead of your health, since I believe no one really wants to live such a high intensity lifestyle where they are under constant pressure. I did the energy drink bit for a while because I was working long shift with little off time in between. The problem that I ran into, which is the reason I actually stopped drinking them, was because I drunk too many different drinks in one day (I did 30 15-hour shifts in a row and getting very little rest, if any), I became extremely angry and irritated (the fatigue, and lack of sleep didn't help). The anger was actually scaring people (I'm a big hulking guy, so being angry only frightens people) and I crashed hard afterwards. After that episode, I gave up using energy drinks, and placing other people's well-being above my own.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
19 Jan 13
I don't drink energy drinks on a regular basis, but I really can't see at all how they would be something that would be really dangerous, if they are consumed in moderation.
I know that they give you quite a jolt of energy and that is the main reason that I will drink them from time to time. However, I have heard somewhere in the past that it would take drinking like 43 of them in one day to even cause you to overdose from caffeine.
@artemeis (4194)
• China
19 Jan 13
I don't think and hopefully not, that most or all of the warded energy drinks drinkers had drank 43 units in one day to get themselves into trouble.
BTW, what unit is being referred here? 43 cans, bottles or measurement units? Also, the composite and concentrations differs with various brands so consumption needs to be controlled with a recommended prescription than logical moderation. I really don't think anyone would consume 43 units of energy drink in one day but I believe if they take it almost to daily - then, there should be some grounds for the health authorities to be concern. Especially during such economically challenging times when most people are "boosting" themselves with these drinks to stay on more than one job.
I really hope that there is a mistake somewhere but I don't think the hospitalized patients are lying.
@aminul842700 (861)
• Dhaka, Bangladesh
18 Jan 13
So dangerous! We must be careful while selecting our drinks. Thank you for sharing such a nice post. Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
18 Jan 13
I can understand the indifference if the delay of pulling these problematic drinks is happening in my country or some undeveloped countries but I cannot believe that this is happening in America.
Thousands of people have already been warded into the ER and a significant number of deaths have already occurred but the authorities are still not taking necessary actions on these energy drinks. Instead, they are all sitting on their desks in their offices arguing the legitimacy of these questionable drinks.
Also, the FDA isn't even a bit authoritative or in control at all. Instead, they are still convening meetings to contemplate God knows what, while these drinks are being sold like soft drinks all over USA.
Talk about efficient government offices.
@prabu6683 (113)
• India
19 Jan 13
Most of the energy goods are not good for your health. It is called as junk drink. Instead of the you can drink fresh coconut drink or fresh juices.