WKYT - Home - Headlines

ER visits tied to energy drinks double since 2007

Updated: Wed 8:11 AM, Jan 16, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A new government survey suggests the number of people seeking emergency treatment after consuming energy drinks has doubled nationwide in a recent four-year span.

That's the same period in which the supercharged drink industry has surged in popularity in convenience stores, bars and on college campuses.

The survey of the nation's hospitals was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It found that from 2007 to 2011, the number of emergency room visits involving the beverages shot up from about 10,000 to more than 20,000. Most of those cases involved teens or young adults.

The report doesn't specify which symptoms brought people to emergency rooms. But it calls energy drink consumption a "rising public health problem" that can cause insomnia, nervousness, headache, fast heartbeat and seizures.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
powered by Disqus

Current Conditions

Weather for Lexington, Kentucky
45° F
Clear
Sun
61 51
Mon
78 54
Tue
83 61
Wed
85 64

Opinion

Do you feel safe travelling on Kentucky's bridges?

Yes
No
Never really thought about it.

Most Commented

powered by Disqus

Enter your number for a chance to win great prizes!
Message and data rates may apply
Refuse to Lose

Viewer Photos

Text Links

Premium reloading brass once fired

WKYT

2851 Winchester Rd. Lexington, Ky 40509 859-299-0411 - switchboard 859-299-2727 - newsroom
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013 - Designed by Gray Digital Media - Powered by Clickability
User Agent: CCBot/2.0 - 187098011