Posted by The Human heart is an amazing part of the human body. The structure of the heart is also very fascinating.
Blood comes in from the Superior/ Inferior Vena Cava, which then going into the Right Atrium, passes through the Tricuspid Valve, into the Right Ventricle and the Pulmonary Valve. Following into the Pulmonary Artery into the Lung. Through this first half the blood is coming in deoxygenated, and is becoming oxygenated for the rest of the body. After the Lungs it goes into the Pulmonary Veins, into the Left Atrium, through the Mitral Valve, to the Left Ventricle, through the Aortic Valve, into the Aorta and is pushed throughout the rest of the body. Then it comes back to the Superior/ Inferior Vena Cava and starts the process all over again.
Now how many of y’all drink energy drinks like Monster, Red bull, Celsius, ECT. Or how many of y’all are stressed during the school year? or with work? or just in general? We may not think about what stress can actually do to our body, Especially our heart.
So for energy drinks, the CDC and the FDA have said that the daily maximum amount of caffeine that is ok for the body to intake is 400 milligrams of caffeine. Which is the equivalent of four cups of coffee. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should limit yourself to less than 200 milligrams per day.
There are many things that energy drinks can do to your body, such as chest pains, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath and an increased risk of attack and stroke. The reason for the increased heart risks is honestly just stupidity. The over consumption of the drink, and what your body can handle. The other part of it is the changes of ingredients, like guarana and taurine, that can disrupt heart rhythms, and potentially trigger arrhythmia.
Taurine is a stimulant same as caffeine but when mixed it amplifies the stimulated effects, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Guarana contains additional caffeine, which might not be listed separately, the total caffeine increased with this ingredient.
Ginseng is a popular herbal medicinal product, which is generally safe however research on it is limited especially on its safety and effectiveness.
Now for everyone’s favorite sugar, high levels of sugar can contribute to obesity, a risk factor for heart disease, and can spike blood sugar levels.
Now how about stress? Stress is something everyone has at one point or another. Stress is a completely normal thing for your body, however if you are in a constant state of high stress, it can harm you. The hormone cortisol is released in response to stress. High levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. These are common risk factors for heart disease. This high level of stress can also promote a buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries.
The general purpose and idea for this project is honestly just be safe, limit yourself to what you drink, but also to find a way to decompress from life so that you are not in a high state of stress for a long period of time. And to know the function of the heart and structure of it.
Cite:
1. Content – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2171#:~:text=Even%20minor%20stress%20can%20trigger,increases%20the%20risk%20of%20stroke.
2. How do energy drinks affect your health? (2024, November 27). good-food. https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/how-do-energy-drinks-affect-your-heart-and-overall-health/2024/05#:~:text=Caffeine%20is%20the%20primary%20stimulant,rate%2C%20and%20high%20blood%20pressure.
3. Wassef, B., Kohansieh, M., & Makaryus, A. N. (2017). Effects of energy drinks on the cardiovascular system. World Journal of Cardiology, 9(11), 796–806. https://doi.org/10.4330/wjc.v9.i11.796
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Dawn Carr, Julia Sheffler, Melissa Meynadasy, Brad Schmidt, Greg Hajcak & Natalie Sachs-Ericsson. (2023) A longitudinal examination of the protective effect of resilience against anxiety among older adults with high COVID-related worry. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 52:5, pages 419-437.
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