The Growing Concern About Energy Drinks

March 20, 2015
Concerns are being raised in the medical community over a growing trend of throwing moderation out the door with the latest generation of caffeine sources, the hugely popular and extraordinarily caffeinated - and sometimes heavily sugared - energy drinks.

Editor's Note: I don't usually feel compelled to preface any article we publish. That said, this one strikes home.  As a career cop I didn't start drinking coffee until I was about thirty years old and regularly working midnight shifts.  Even then I limited how much I drank.  Not long ago, I had a family member hospitalized because he was drinking energy drinks far too often, not drinking enough water and sometimes substituting an energy drink for a missed meal just so he could keep going.  Malnutrition and dehydration were the result.  These drinks can definitely be dangerous and it's imperative you monitor/limit your intake of them (in my opinion).  Stay safe.

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It’s a challenge faced by cops who stand watch in the wee hours, prowling the darkness in the interest of justice and searching for those who prowl it with other, less noble motivations.  It was no doubt a problem for the predecessors of modern day police, the night watchmen through history who wandered the streets of their towns and settlements ready to raise the alarm should they come across a fire or thief in the night or, before them (and still in less developed parts of the world), the young, sturdy, and brave who protected their camps from men or beasts come to plunder. 

The challenge can be daunting, the failure’s risks great, but with a problem itself that is surprisingly mundane; the challenge being to simply stay awake!

For even dedicated night owls staying up all night long can be difficult; most of us in the “night owl” camp – including, to some extent, both Althea and I who are wired this way – will still want to hit the rack before the sun rises.  Equipped with large and highly developed brains that set us intellectually and cognitively far apart from most other animals, but relatively weak senses and musculature in comparison, human beings evolved to operate best in the daytime.  Stumbling about in the dark, mostly unable to see, hear, smell, or fight off predators with vastly superior strength and senses is a less than optimal survival tactic.  Instead, our early ancestors learned to hunker down and work cooperatively. 

Of course, there are those who love Mids, thriving on the unique energy of policing a world most people never see, where the volume of calls might be far less but far more interesting and adrenaline rules, but for most of us – even we natural night owls who mellow with age and learn to appreciate sunrises at the beginning of the day instead of the end – the inevitable lulls and trying to fight eons of human evolution mean fighting sleep will become every bit a challenge as fighting crime. 

(ADD ANECDOTES, ETC ABOUT COOPING AND FATIGUE HERE?)

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Fighting fatigue and sleep has long tapped into another trait of human evolution and ingenuity, the use of stimulants to push through the urge to “curl up around the campfire.”  Traditionally, LEOs have been devotees of the elixir of life… Coffee.  Caffeine is and remains the most common stimulant for warding off, or at least delaying, fatigue and can come from a number of sources, most notably coffee, tea, chocolate, and caffeinated soft drinks.  Naturally derived caffeine consumed in moderation generally has few health concerns.  Concerns are being raised in the medical community, however, over a growing trend of throwing moderation out the door with the latest generation of caffeine sources, the hugely popular and extraordinarily caffeinated – and sometimes heavily sugared – energy drinks

Products marketed as energy drinks pack a caffeine punch; while an 8oz cup of coffee might contain around 90-100mg of caffeine, a similarly sized serving of tea about half that, and traditional caffeinated sodas (Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper etc.) from a quarter to half the caffeine amount in coffee, the caffeine content in energy drinks can range from on par with coffee (70-100mg/8oz serving) to well over 200mg per serving.  What is overlooked that many of the drinks come in cans labeled as two or more servings but in reality will be viewed as a single serving by the one about to knock it back.  Some single cans have been found to contain up to 500mg of caffeine and, unlike a cup of coffee that is usually sipped allowing the caffeine to be introduced slowly, are often downed quickly and repetitively.  It is not uncommon for their fans to drink several cans a day.  Consider, too, that energy drinks often contain herbal ingredients placing them in the category of supplements and beyond regulation by the FDA.  Not all make known their caffeine content and, among those that do, the amounts claimed are often quite different that found in independent lab analysis.   As some are technically “herbal supplements” they may contain additional other stimulants such as ephedrine, guarana, taurine, and ginseng that heighten their effects. 

Full disclosure:  Both Althea and I love coffee and tea and are deeply grateful to the all-knowing, all-wise Creator of caffeine in all its glory (let’s all bow our heads for a moment of humble praise… Amen).  The problem with so-called energy drinks is the growing evidence they far outstrip coffee and tea in risk, and that so many people – and particularly adolescents and young adults – have taken to them with such addicted enthusiasm.  In some cases, we do mean literally addicted.

Caffeine, despite its long and nearly universal popularity, is still a psychoactive drug capable of creating both dependence and increasing tolerance in its users with all the meaning those terms mean when applied to alcohol and other drugs.  Taken in excess caffeine can hurt us and, in extreme but not unheard of circumstances, may even lead to death.  In her clinical practice, Althea encounters many people who, by all appearances and in their own words, are addicted and heavy users of energy drinks. 

This includes a lot of cops, perhaps understandably considering their need to stay awake.  But also, she suspects, many like the feeling they get, tend toward addictive personality traits and sensation seeking, and have found a way to get a legal “high” that is socially acceptable and able to be taken to work.  Not too surprisingly, these often tend to be younger officers.  As an officer in a department using shared vehicles in a department motor pool, I can tell you (and I’m sure many can vouch) that it’s not uncommon to find several empty Red Bull or Monster Energy cans rolling around a squad’s floor in the mornings. 

Again, we’re certainly not anti-caffeine but are definitely not fans of the energy drink trend.  At high enough levels a condition of caffeine toxicity can occur so, if you partake, at least be aware of some of their more dangerous side effects:

Cardiac issues – High levels of caffeine, especially rapidly ingested, can cause problems with the heart such as palpitations that can become dangerous over time or if the heart is already compromised in some way (among the young underlying heart conditions might not yet be known).  Emergency room visits are an increasing problem and in extreme cases cardiac arrest has occurred and several recent deaths are suspected to have been tied to high energy drink consumption;  when have you ever heard that happening with coffee. 

Headaches and migraines – Whether related to caffeine withdrawal or heavy consumption, many people have reported sometimes severe headaches as a physical symptom of high consumption;

Insomnia and other sleep disorders – The importance of proper sleep cannot be stressed enough, nor can caffeine’s ability to impair it.  Artificially jacking yourself up night after night, and then trying (sometimes with alcohol or meds) after shift to bring yourself back down so you can sleep before doing it all over again wears on health, quality of life, and even longevity;

Addiction – It’s not only possible but likely heavy caffeine users will become addicted.  It’s not heroin but still not easy to comfortably wean off of and as tolerance builds more and more caffeine is needed to stay alert;

Anxiety – Feelings and worry, fear, agitation, and distractibility equaling those of people with anxiety disorders have been reported, and lower grade anxiety is very common with heavy caffeine use.  Going far beyond positively heightened alertness, this agitated state easily gets in the way of effective and safe policing, leads to impulsivity, and put you and colleagues in harm’s way;

Diuretic effects – The ingredients of energy drinks act as diuretics, stripping needed water from the body.  In excess, they dehydrate to an extent the body’s chemical balance is compromised and can hurt physical and mental function;

Stimulant psychosis – Usually experienced with chronic amphetamine or cocaine abuse, evidence is emerging that caffeine can also, in heavy users and also those with a predisposition, cause psychotic episodes and features.  

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Shiftwork in policing is a fact of life.  Staying awake and alert for it is critical.  So how can you do it healthily?  We suggest the following alternatives to the easy fix of today’s energy drinks:

Stick with more traditional forms of caffeine

Caffeine in moderation is generally harmless, and can even be beneficial.  Coffee and tea both have some antioxidant health benefits so a cup or three not only probably won't kill you but might just make you a little healthier.  Even strong coffees with higher caffeine levels are usually sipped, allowing time for the body to absorb and process what caffeine you do get, as opposed to the highly chuggable energy drinks meant to deliver a roundhouse kick to the system.  One important caveat, however:  Regularly knocking back Super Grande Triple Fudge Caramel Mochacinos negates the aforementioned health benefits; you might as well just pop into Costco and devour one of their whole chocolate cakes. 

Energize with a good diet

Complex carbohydrates - fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, etc - are one of the best ways to stay alert for the long haul as they break down and release energizing sugars into the bloodstream slowly and steadily, as opposed to the highly processed, grab-and-go foods a lot of cops turn to out of convenience only to experience a quick carb (and energy) crash.  Mix it up with lean protein and snack throughout your shift; it will keep you satisfied without felling bloated, promotes alertness, is a healthier plan, and give you something to look forward to.   

Get out of the squad and move

It's very easy to get out of the car only when arriving at calls or for the occasional traffic stop, especially when the weather is extreme and uncomfortable, and for a lot of us the butt becomes one with the squad.  Break that habit!  Simply moving is one of the easiest ways to stay mentally sharp; getting out of the car for frequent foot patrols, breaking your routine to take a walk and get some fresh air, or even introducing light exercise or stretching periodically throughout your shift increases blood flow to both body and brain. It has the added benefit of keeping you loose and in the habit of moving for when you do have to spring into action, thereby reducing the chance of injury.

Interact with other people

Simply talking to others is a great way to engage the brain and stay sharp.  Whether it's fellow cops or favorite personalities you meet and befriend along the way, when you start to wane it's time to connect for a while.  I have always developed "my beat people" I like to check in with and get to know and I'm very much an introvert.  It also helps remind us that not everybody we dial with is a complete ___________!

No matter the shift you work, staying awake and alert is crucial for your effectiveness and safety.  Staying awake wisely is crucial for your health.

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