Ganolife Coffee Is Better For Your Heart Part 4

This Is Your Heart on Energy Drinks. Your heart responds to the high levels of caffeine in energy drinks in more ways than one. By Jennifer J. Brown, PhD, Everyday Health Staff Writer. Energy Drinks Can Hide Alcohol's Effects Energy drinks and alcohol work in different ways in our bodies. While energy drinks are stimulants, alcohol is a depressant. In combination, the two send contradicting messages to the nervous system. "The usual response to excess alcohol intake is tiredness, which then limits alcohol intake," explained William T. Abraham, MD, FACP, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Everyday Health columnist. Energy drinks mask this effect. "The concomitant use of energy drinks fools the body into feeling energetic despite excess alcohol, and allows further consumption of alcohol to dangerous levels of intoxication," said Dr. Abraham. In his opinion, energy drinks should carry warning labels. The Drug Abuse Warning Network already considers this the alcohol-energy drink trend a public health concern. "I believe that we will soon see the FDA step in and begin to regulate energy drinks," agreed Campbell.