New research on possible harmful attributes of energy drinks.

New research on possible harmful attributes of energy drinks: Young people who mix energy drinks with alcohol are twice as likely to end up harmed than those who just drink alcohol, a new study has claimed. Researchers from Wake Forest University looked at the drinking habits of 4,000 U.S. students. They found people who drank energy drink cocktails were more likely to injure themselves, require medical help or get into trouble over sex. The report claimed that this was because energy drinks mask feelings of drunkenness.

In a separate study, researchers at Wayne State University said two cans a day of a popular energy drink increased blood pressure and heart rate in 15 healthy adults aged 26." They said the increase could be "clinically significant" in patients with heart disease or those who consume energy drinks often. Even when participants were sitting in chairs watching movies their heart rate went up as much as 11%, the study from Wayne State says. Within four hours, systolic blood pressure increased by as much as 9.6% and diastolic blood pressure increased by as much as 7.8%. Energy drinks generally contain high levels of caffeine and taurine.