ARRHYTHMIAS IN YOUNG PEOPLE RELATED TO ENERGY DRINKS AND STIMULANTS

Energy drink and stimulant use has rapidly increased among adolescents and young adults, especially students and athletes seeking improved concentration and performance. Although widely marketed as harmless, these products contain high levels of caffeine, taurine, guarana, and other stimulants capable of affecting cardiac electrophysiology. Evidence shows that excessive consumption can provoke arrhythmias through heightened sympathetic activity, QT-interval prolongation, intracellular calcium disturbances, and electrolyte imbalance. Reported cases include sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, atrial fibrillation, and, rarely, life-threatening ventricular tachycardia or torsades de pointes. Risk is amplified when energy drinks are combined with alcohol, nicotine, dehydration, or intense exercise. This review summarizes current findings on mechanisms, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of energy drink–related arrhythmias in young people. Growing public health concerns highlight the need for better awareness, regulation of stimulant content, and educational initiatives to reduce preventable cardiac events among youth.