Energy drinks linked to cardiac arrest in young adults, study finds

USA Today · , USA TODAY · 2026-11-04 20:16 UTC

A new study found that energy drinks are linked to higher risk of cardiac arrest and heart attacks in young adults ages 18 to 34.

Caffeinated energy drinks are available in grocery and convenience stores across the United States and while flavors like watermelon, Shirley Temple and apple sound enticing, a new study may make young adults think twice before taking a sip.

In a review of more than 28,000 adverse-event reports to the Food and Drug Administration over eight years (2017-2025), independent research presented by the American Heart Association (AHA) found that caffeinated drinks and supplements are "disproportionately" linked to reports of serious cardiovascular events, such as cardiac arrest and heart attacks, especially in young adults ages 18 to 34.

“These products are marketed as everyday pick-me-ups and sold next to soda and bottled water, so most people assume they carry no real risk,” Sai Samayamanthula, the study's author and a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said in a statement.

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