ORLANDO, Florida — Energy drinks boost blood pressure in even the young and healthy people and may leave hypertensive adults more charged up than they bargained for, researchers said here. Consumption of two energy drinks a day increased systolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg and heart rate by five to seven beats per minute, according to a small study reported at the American Heart Association meeting. Although this degree of change may hold little danger for most young patients, it likely would be clinically significant with regular consumption or in patients with cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, said James S. Kalus, Pharm.D., of the Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit, Mich., and colleagues. ‘If you know you have cardiovascular disease or are taking medication to lower blood pressure, it is important to avoid energy drinks until we learn more about what they do,’ he said. Energy drinks typically contain high levels of caffeine and the amino acid taurine. These compounds have been shown in previous studies to have an impact on cardiac function and hemodynamic status, although the data available for caffeine are controversial, Dr. Kalus said. The study included 15 healthy volunteers (53% […]