Energy drinks and caffeine-heavy supplements showed up far more often than other foods and supplements in federal reports of serious heart problems, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago. Reports of cardiac arrest were about 11 times more common for caffeine or stimulant products, and adults ages 18 to 34 accounted for roughly 45% of the heart-related reports.
The researchers are careful to say the study does not prove these drinks cause heart problems. But with the findings now circulating widely this week, it is a timely moment for families, especially those with teens and college students, to talk about how much caffeine is in the cans and powders around the house.
What the researchers looked at
The team, led by Sai Samayamanthula, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, reviewed 28,345 voluntary reports submitted to an FDA safety database between 2017 and 2025, covering people ages 13 and older. Of those, 854 involved energy drinks or supplements containing caffeine or other stimulants. The other 27,491 involved products without those ingredients, such as soft drinks, vitamins and protein bars, and served as the comparison group. Products were grouped by ingredient, not by brand.
Compared with that group, reports involving caffeine or stimulant products mentioned:
- Cardiac arrest about 11 times as often
- Heart attack about 4.5 times as often
- Dangerous heart rhythms or palpitations about 4 times as often
- Rapid heart rate nearly 3 times as often
- Chest pain 2.71 times as often, and fainting about twice as often
The patterns were similar for men and women, according to the AHA.
What the study can and cannot tell us
This is a preliminary abstract that has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The numbers describe how often problems were reported, not a person’s actual risk. Because the reports are voluntary, many cases are likely never filed, and the database does not show how many people drank these products without any trouble. Other health conditions or behaviors may also have played a role.
Gregory M. Marcus, a UCSF cardiologist who chaired the AHA’s 2026 scientific statement on caffeine and was not involved in the research, stressed that point, ScienceDaily reported, saying the study does not prove that caffeine products cause these events.
“For many healthy people, if these products are consumed occasionally, the risk is probably small.” — Sai Samayamanthula, lead author, via ScienceDaily
Why young adults made up such a large share is still unknown. Possible explanations researchers raised include heavier use, intense exercise, mixing with alcohol or drugs, or heart conditions no one had diagnosed yet, but none of those has been confirmed.
How much caffeine is in these products
The AHA’s 2026 scientific statement says most adults can generally have up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day without significant safety concerns, though sensitivity varies from person to person. Some energy drinks contain up to three times as much caffeine per fluid ounce as brewed coffee, and some pre-workout supplements contain more than 12 times as much, according to the AHA summary reported by ScienceDaily.
Energy drink sales have more than doubled in a decade and topped $20 billion in 2024. Because the FDA classifies these products as foods or dietary supplements, they do not go through the kind of pre-market safety testing that medications do. The authors are calling for more research and more systematic safety monitoring, and they suggest doctors ask younger patients with palpitations, chest pain or unexplained fainting whether they use these products.
Why it matters for families
- Read the label together. Check caffeine per serving and count how many servings are in a can or scoop. Teens heading to practice or the gym may not realize how strong some pre-workout powders are.
- Add it up. Coffee, soda, tea and energy drinks all count toward the daily total.
- Watch the reasons. Reaching for energy drinks often goes with short sleep or stress. Our guides on helping your family sleep well and coping with everyday stress may help.
- Talk with your doctor. Anyone with a heart condition, or anyone who notices a racing heart, chest pain or fainting, should talk with a doctor before using concentrated stimulant products. Parents with questions about caffeine and children or teens can ask their pediatrician. Chest pain or fainting needs prompt medical attention.
The next step is peer review and, the researchers hope, better tracking of these products. Upstormed News will follow any further research or regulatory response.
Read more: Norovirus Season Is Here: How to Keep the Stomach Bug Away From Your Holiday Table
Do you have house rules about energy drinks for your teens? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Sources: American Heart Association, “Energy drinks, stimulant products linked to cardiac arrest, heart attack in young adults” (November 2, 2026); ScienceDaily, “Energy Drinks Linked to 11 Times More Reports of Cardiac Arrest” (November 11, 2026); TheDiggerNews, “Energy Drinks Under Scrutiny after Study Finds 11-Fold Rise in Cardiac Arrest Reports” (November 12, 2026)
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