Marina Melkumova, a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist at Arabkir Medical Center, presented the effects of energy drinks on the health of children and adolescents.
 

Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that affect metabolism, and they should not be included in children’s diets. The harmful effects of energy drinks include:

• Increased blood pressure

• Elevated heart rate

• Feelings of anxiety and restlessness

• Sleep disturbances and insomnia

• Dehydration

• In extreme cases, heart rhythm disturbances, acute kidney failure, and convulsions.

In Armenia, as in many parts of the world, the number of adolescents—and even children—consuming energy drinks is rising each year. According to the Health Behavior in School-Age Children Survey (2022), 40% of adolescents in Armenia consume energy drinks weekly.

A video on this topic will be released soon.