American cardiologists: “Energy drinks linked to some heart attacks in young people”

“Products that contain caffeine or other stimulants should be subjected to greater scrutiny.” A study presented today in Chicago at the congress of the American Heart Association, the society of American cardiologists, examined 28 thousand cases of heart attack recorded between 2017 and 2025 in the United States.

A higher than normal percentage - the analysis found - was linked to previous consumption of energy drinks, particularly among healthy people between 18 and 34 years old.

For the calculation, the study author, Sai Samayamanthula of the Virginia School of Medicine, used the registry of adverse events related to food supplements and products containing caffeine and stimulants. The database is managed by the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, at a federal level.

At any age, the analysis showed, those who drank an energy drink or a drink containing stimulants were 4.5 times more likely than normal to need to see a doctor or go to the emergency room for a heart attack, 4 times more likely than normal to have an arrhythmia, 3 times more likely than normal to suffer from tachycardia, 2.71 times more likely to experience chest pain and 2 times more likely to faint.

45% of the cases seen in emergency and linked to excessive consumption of caffeine and stimulants concerned young people between 18 and 34 years old, people who did not have particular risk factors for the heart, women and men in equal proportion.

Energy drink, half of minors use it every week. The nutritionist: "Here's what they risk"

The link between energy drinks and heart problems at the moment remains only based on statistics. There are no scientific studies that demonstrate a cause-effect relationship and faced with a fierce industry, even from a legal point of view, doctors weigh their words.

“For many healthy people who consume these products occasionally the risk is probably low,” Samayamanthula points out. “However, those who drink energy drinks or use stimulant supplements on a regular basis can easily exceed the recommended doses of caffeine.”

The reason why there are no precise studies on the effects of energy drinks is clear: they are food products or nutritional supplements, not medicines. Only the latter are subjected to preliminary checks on health effects and rigorously followed to identify any side effects.

“These are goods that can be found in every supermarket next to mineral water” explains Samayamanthula. “So many people think there isn't any kind of risk.” The feeling of energy they give, the advertising and the pleasant flavor have made these drinks very attractive. Sales have more than doubled in the last decade, reaching $20 billion in the United States and $80 billion worldwide.

Because energy drinks are not a harmless fuel for teenagers

by Nicola Renard and Julien Bosseler 01 November 2026

While there is a lack of specific research on energy drinks, there are studies that demonstrate the risk to the heart caused by excessive caffeine consumption. The limit not to be exceeded, according to the American Heart Association, is 400 milligrams per day. An Italian espresso contains on average 80 milligrams.