Graphic/Maeve OConnor

More often than not the negative effects of energy drinks are swarming the news and social media platforms as they have become an essential staple in teens’ lives due to the extreme amount of caffeine. Energy drinks are consumed by buyers without giving thought to their negative impacts. The high caffeine levels are too addicting to acknowledge their harm when they help individuals get through long work days and school. To many, a can of caffeine and flavoring seems utterly harmless and just a way to have an extra source of energy. However, with risks such as sleep deprivation, heart complications and risks of stroke, it is important to bring awareness to younger generations just how many harmful impacts they have on people.

Energy drinks, as well as other forms of caffeine, are a staple in the lives of most everyday Americans. A study from Salon reports an average of 90% of adults in the United States drink some form of caffeine in their day to day lives. That being said, the mass amounts of caffeine among many can easily become a serious health consequence without the proper education.Teenagers and early adults with developing minds and bodies are at risk for  cardiovascular and nervous system complications if they consume too many energy drinks. Though that is not always the case, instant complications will rapidly apply. Soon after consumption, they will  be aware of the anxiety, sleep deprivation/irregularities, dehydration, and stomach pain that  follows. 

After observing students at Walpole High School, many students are drinking large coffees, energy drinks and soda during class. Like any dependency, trying to quit caffeine  will lead to withdrawal symptoms including fatigue, irritability, headaches leaving the individual to not want to break the loop. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noted an increase in heart rate or blood pressure can be caused by the consumption of energy drinks. As it is a more rare case, but still a possibility, your favorite caffeinated drinks have been linked  to  strokes due to reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), a condition in which the blood vessels of the brain restrict blood flow. 

Energy drinks may temporarily give a boost to your energy, but the long and short term health effects are not worth the risks. Between alternating sleep patterns, addictions and heart conditions, the combination should be essential to young people and their recognition of how they are harming their bodies irreversibly. Finding healthier alternatives to maintain energy is key to avoid the dangers, to ensure an improved mind and body.