Energy Drinks Linked to Higher Cardiac Arrest Risk in New Study

New research has uncovered a link between energy drink consumption and an increased risk of cardiac arrest, raising concerns for millions of regular consumers ¹². The study, which examined 28,345 reports submitted to the FDA’s safety database from 2017 to 2025, revealed that cardiac arrest occurred roughly eleven times more frequently in cases involving caffeine- and stimulant-containing products compared to those without these ingredients ².

This finding highlights a notable difference in the occurrence of heart-related incidents between energy drinks and other products. Reports involving energy drinks and supplements showed a nearly four-and-a-half-fold higher likelihood of heart attacks, and four times the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias or palpitations ². Such disparities underscore the potential dangers posed by the high caffeine content in many energy drinks.

Energy drinks typically contain up to three times more caffeine per fluid ounce than a standard cup of brewed coffee, while some pre-workout supplements can have over twelve times the caffeine content per fluid ounce ². These elevated caffeine levels contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular events, making them particularly concerning for frequent users.

The popularity of energy drinks has surged, with sales more than doubling over the past decade, reaching over $20 billion in 2024 ². This growth in consumption emphasizes the need for greater awareness and further investigation into the potential risks associated with these beverages. Notably, around 45% of the reports linking caffeine- and stimulant-containing products to cardiovascular events involved individuals aged 18 to 34, indicating that younger adults may be especially vulnerable to these effects ².

Interestingly, the study found similar patterns in reports involving both men and women, suggesting that the risk is not limited to one gender ². Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates energy drinks and stimulant supplements as foods or dietary supplements rather than as medications, meaning they are subject to different regulatory standards compared to prescription drugs ².

What We Know

• A study connects energy drink consumption to an increased risk of cardiac arrest ¹²
• The study reviewed 28,345 reports to the FDA safety database from 2017 to 2025 ²
• Cardiac arrest was reported about eleven times more often in cases involving caffeine- and stimulant-containing products compared to those without these ingredients ²
• Reports involving energy drinks and supplements were nearly four-and-a-half times more likely to include heart attacks and four times more likely to include ventricular arrhythmias or palpitations ²
• Some energy drinks contain up to three times more caffeine per fluid ounce than brewed coffee, and some pre-workout supplements contain more than twelve times as much caffeine per fluid ounce ²
• Sales of caffeinated energy drinks have more than doubled over the past decade, reaching over $20 billion in 2024 ²
• About 45% of reports linking caffeine- and stimulant-containing products to cardiovascular events involved adults ages 18 to 34 ²
• Similar patterns were observed in reports involving both men and women ²
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates energy drinks and stimulant supplements as foods or dietary supplements rather than as medications ²