Many teenagers enjoy getting a boost from energy drinks such as Rock Star and Monster, but moms and dads may want to monitor their kids intake of the beverages. Results of a new study indicate that the drinks can be dangerous to teens and may cause numerous health problems and even death.
The report, which was recently published in the journal Pediatrics, was conducted by a group of concerned doctors who found that caffeine and other similar ingredients can cause heart palpitations, seizures, strokes. The Associated Press reports that the researchers claim that the danger is that the safe levels of consumption have not been established.
According to the news source, The American Association of Poison Control Centers has begun tracking overdoses caused by energy drinks, and so far there have been more than 300 cases in 2011 – 25 percent of which involved kids younger than 6. Though there have been few studies about the beverages, the American Academy of Pediatrics is expected to come out with guidelines in the near future.
"These drinks have no benefit, no place in the diet of kids," adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Marcie Schneider told the news outlet.