For some college students, energy drinks are a quick and efficient way to get through their hectic schedules.
However, while energy drinks may have short-term positive effects, students aren't necessarily aware of the long-term dangers that they can cause to a person's body.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, drinking too many energy drinks or even drinking them too fast can cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, chest pains, seizures, delirium, kidney problems and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
The AAPCC received 3,028 exposures to energy drinks in 2013-over half of which were of children 18 and younger.
Since children already have a high metabolism, drinking anything with an increased amount of caffeine and sugar will only raise it more.
According to The Journal of Pediatrics, moderate amounts of caffeine is considered safe for adults, but children should not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine per day.
According to Linda Clemens, a University of Memphis professor of Health and Sport Sciences, more than one or two energy drinks a day is not recommended.
"Some side effects that most people don't know about that are caused by energy drinks are irregular heartbeat and dehydration," Clemens said. "There is also a diuretic effect that is caused if too much is consumed."
According to Marian Levy, associate professor in Public Health, no energy drink is beneficial to a growing human being.
"Drinking energy drinks is equivalent to mixing carbohydrates and fat into a single meal," Levy said. "When mixing the two, your body will only use one of them and store the other as fat since they are both energy sources."
Drinking an energy drink is similar to eating breakfast then turning around and eating two or three donuts afterwards rather than eating a bowl of cereal with milk.
The caffeine in energy drinks can also cause physical problems because being a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant, and sugar metabolizing quickly, blood sugar is increased and then dropped just as quickly.
This is dangerous because it causes confusion to the body, resulting in fainting and dizziness.
According to Terezie Mosby, part-time instructor in health sport sciences, energy drinks, like many things, are okay in moderation. While they are not the healthiest option, their short-term benefits could help keep someone awake on a long drive, or in some circumstances, replenish an exhausted athlete.
"Energy drinks should only be drank if you are active and sweating a lot," Mosby said. "They are mainly made for those who are in sports, especially since they help replace electrolytes."
