Local Crystal River / Inverness Florida CPR classes with the American Heart

Crystal River First Aid Training Classes | Crystal River, FL AED Training Classes | Inverness classes | Over 13 community class locations in central Florida!

At In-Pulse CPR we take pride in our quality of teaching. We use the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment to provide for an interactive, experiential learning environment. We make sure that each student leaves the classroom feeling confident in the skills they gained.

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In-Pulse CPR offers CPR classes in Crystal River and Inverness for healthcare (BLS) and non healthcare individuals (Heartsaver).  We also offer private group classes.

Over 13 other class locations in Central Florida to choose from.

Our Central Florida training has many convenient class dates and times including weekends and evenings.  Please visit our classroom calendar for many other class locations.

Surrounding communities and organizations:  Homosassa Springs, Hernando, Inverness Highlands North, Beverly Hills, Black Diamond, Inglis, Yankeetown, Dunnellon, Citrus Springs, Citrus Hills, Lecanto, Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge, Withlacoochee Technical Institute, College of Central Florida Citrus Campus, and ItecLife University.  Nearby hospitals include:  Seven Rivers Community Hospital, Health Centr at Brentwood, Citrus Surgery Center, Lecanto Surgery Center, Sun Coast Endoscopy Center, and Citrus County.

The Importance of Healthy Exercise for seniors

Exercise and physical activity can be essential for helping to you to stay more energetic, independent and healthy as you grow older. Most adults over the age of sixty-five spend around ten hours or more either lying or sitting down every day. This establishes them as the most sedentary group. However, they can pay a price for that inactivity, suffering from higher rates of heart disease, obesity and early death. As you grow older, it becomes more important for you to stay active if you want to maintain your independence and stay as health as possible.

seniors walking

Understanding Physical activity

Physical activity can count as anything that gets your body moving, from recreational sport to simply going for a short walk. The first thing that you should be focusing on as you get older is keeping yourself moving. On a basic level, this means making sure that you don’t spend every hour of the day sitting down. In addition to reducing the amount of time you spend being still, it is important to engage in around one hundred and fifty minutes of aerobic activity at a moderate level each week. Usually, it’s a good idea to be active every single day, generally in bouts of activity ten minutes long or more. The more you do in terms of exercise, the greater your health gains will be.

One method for achieving your physical activity target on a weekly basis is to do thirty minutes of activity five days out of the week. In two of those five days, the activities should be something that helps to strengthen your bones and muscles, such as heavy gardening or carrying heavy loads. Activity that count as moderate intensity aerobics include:

  • Water aerobics
  • Walking fast
  • Playing tennis
  • Riding a bike on relatively level ground
  • Pushing your lawnmower

Daily chores such as cooking, shopping and completing housework should really count towards your weekly 150 minutes, as the effort will not raise your heartrate.

The Four Types of Exercise

For seniors who want to stay as independent and healthy as possible, the national institute of health recommends four primary types of exercises, including:

  1. Balance exercises, which build leg muscles and reduce your chances of suffering from falls. According to data, in the United States alone, hospitals experience 300,000 admissions caused by broken hips on a yearly basis.
  2. Strength exercises, which increase your metabolism and build your adult muscles, as well as keeping your blood sugar and weight in check.
  3. Endurance exercises are activities such as jogging, walking, biking or swimming that can be used to increase both your breathing and heart rate for a somewhat extended period of time. Make sure that you build your endurance slowly, starting with small periods of five minutes endurance activities at a time.
  4. Stretching exercises, these motions are intended to give you better freedom of movement, which can allow you to be active more often during your senior years. Stretching exercises by themselves however will not be enough to improve your strength or endurance.

American Heart CPR classes
for young and old alike

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Best Exercises For Seniors To Burn Fat (No Injuries Risk)

Staying Safe during Cardiovascular Exercise

Engaging in physical activity does not have to be a strenuous task in order for you to experience the health benefits that you’re looking for. Cardiovascular exercise helps individuals to maintain muscles, healthy bones, and joints, as well as aiding in the control of a recommended weight and reducing body fat. Before you can get started with a cardiovascular exercise routine, however, it’s important for people to consult with their physicians and ask for advice about how the program could impact them. This is especially relevant for those who suffer from chronic health problems. If you’re exercising with a trainer, it’s also worth making sure that they know all about your health issues in advance. When it comes to staying safe during cardiovascular exercise, here are some precautions that everyone should follow.

joint

Dealing with Injuries

When you’re just getting started with a new form of exercise, it’s important to recognize that your body isn’t used to the strain you will be putting it under. Because of that, to avoid injuries, it is a good idea to take things slowly at the start. Remember to always warm up properly and cool down using appropriate stretching and breathing techniques. If you are not used to leading an active lifestyle, ensure that you give your body enough time to adjust before you start pushing yourself beyond your limits. Choose the sports and exercises you want to get involved with carefully, and make sure that you’re aware of the dangers overtraining can pose. What’s more, always give your body time to recover between sessions.

Eating

Making sure that you eat a healthy diet alongside your exercise regime is crucial. You should always eat enough food before exercising to fuel your body for the hard work to come. However, make sure that you wait between sixty and ninety minutes after a meal before you start your cardio. Giving your body the time it needs to properly digest food can be pivotal to your endurance levels.

Weather Conditions

lightning

Most people forget to acknowledge the weather when it comes to managing their exercise routines. Dehydration is one of the most prominent dangers you risk when you decide to exercise in either hot or cold weather. It’s also important to ensure that you choose your clothing appropriately, so that you can avoid hypothermia in winter, or overheating in the summer. Do not exercise in conditions that seem incredibly harsh, as this will only increase your risk of suffering from injuries, and keep your body hydrated by consuming liquids before, after and during exercise.

The Quality of Air

Sometimes the air you access indoors can be far worse in quality to what you get outdoors. If possible, spend the money on purchasing an air-purifier when you’re exercising at home. If you regularly go to the gym, make sure that the location you choose has proper ventilation. Poor air quality can have significant adverse effects on the many benefits that regular exercise offers, by irritating your respiratory system and impacting the flow of oxygen.

 

How to Start Exercising if you’re Overweight

Most of us know how important healthy living is, however that doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be easy. For some people, the prospect of getting fit, engaging in regular exercise and eating right will come naturally. However, for those who are already overweight, or large enough that doing the exercises thinner people do can be a challenge, it’s even harder to get started.

The first thing to remember is that you can’t hate yourself thin. Approach the concept of getting healthier from a place of compassion, where you recognize that you are a beautiful person, and the purpose for exercising is to become a better version of yourself. Here’s how you can start exercising right, if you’re already overweight.

  1. Recognize that Healthy Living is a Lifestyle, not something you can just Do

When you’re thinking about exercising more often and losing weight, it’s a good idea to remember that this is something you’re going to have to work at and improve on a regular basis. You cannot simply wake up one day and discover that you’re capable of all the health and fitness activities that you might want to take part in. If you go into exercise with unrealistic expectations, then you’re setting yourself up for problems.

Whether you were training for a new job, learning how to play the guitar, or discovering a new language, you wouldn’t expect yourself to be capable of everything within a single day. There’s no reason to expect that nutrition or exercise goals should be any different. The goal should be for you to make small, positive changes that can stand up to the test of time.

  1. Always Find Something that You Enjoy Doing

The best way of making sure that you not only start exercising, but continue to exercise, is to find an activity that you actually enjoy. Getting into the mindset for healthy living is half of the battle, but the rest is putting the plans you have into motion. If you are already suffering from weight issues, then this can be a difficult hurdle to get over, as you need to figure out what kind of exercise works for you. The best option is to find exercise that gives you emotional and mental rewards as well as physical. Seek things that you enjoy doing, and don’t get stuck in the mindset that it’s all or nothing.

  1. Focus on The Present, Instead of the Future

Once you have discovered what it is you actually want to do, whether it’s a swimming class, taking part in your local football team, or lifting weights while you watch TV, you’ll need to get started. Remember, take it slow and focus on pushing yourself only to the extent you are physically capable of. If you’re relatively heavyset, you shouldn’t expect an amazing start. Just focus on the small steps. Shorter, lighter workouts aren’t going to give you your dream body, but starting light is the best way to get yourself into a healthy routine, build good habits, and acclimate your body to regular activity.

 

Healthy Exercising Advice for New Mothers

In all honesty, as a new mother, you may find that exercising and getting back into shape fitness-wise is not the first thing on your mind. However, this doesn’t mean that figuring out how to become more physically active isn’t worthwhile. In fact, learning how to exercise regularly after you have given birth could be one of the best things that you can do for your body and well-being. Your body will be vulnerable however, which means that you need to be cautious about the steps you take.

post pregnant

Why it’s good for you

Regularly exercise for new mothers can:

  • Improve your cardiovascular fitness levels
  • Promote the ability to reach a healthier weight
  • Restore the tone and strength of muscles
  • Boost your levels of energy
  • Improve your abdominal muscles
  • Relieve stress
  • Enhance your mood
  • Help to promote recovery from and prevent postpartum depression

What’s more, ensuring that physical activity becomes a common part of your daily routine can help you to set a more positive example for your new child in the years to follow.

When to Get Started

In previous years, health care providers and medical experts have regularly suggested that women wait for a period of at least six weeks after they have given birth to start exercising. However, this may not be necessary. If you had an uncomplicated and natural delivery, you should find that it is safe to start exercising as soon as you feel capable. If you had a complicated birth or C-section, then you’ll need to talk to your doctor about when exercise can start safely.

Activities you can try

When you decide that you are ready to exercise, start with something that is both simple and low impact, such as going for a walk every day. Once your health care professional has confirmed that you are okay to go ahead with further exercise, you can also consider pelvic tilts or kegel exercises. Pelvic tilts can be done multiple times a day to help strengthen the muscles of your abdomen. Lie with your back to the floor and bend your knees slightly so that you can balance your feet properly against the floor. Then, tighten the muscles in your abdomen and raise your pelvis slightly, holding the position for ten seconds. Work up to twenty repetitions.

Kegel exercises, on the other hand, can be used to tone the muscles of your pelvic floor, which support your bladder, uterus, and small intestine. Contract the muscle that you use to control your flow of urine and hold that for up to ten seconds, then release for ten seconds between contractions. Aim for about three sets of ten repetitions every day.

Goals for Physical Activity

For most women who are healthy, the department of health would typically recommend around one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week. Preferably, this activity should be spread evenly throughout the week. However, to get the most out of your exercise regime, consider the following guidelines were possible:

  • Always give yourself time to warm up and cool down from a workout.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
  • Start off slowly and increase your pace gradually.
  • Avoid becoming overly tired, and stop exercising if you find that you’re in pain.

Public CPR Classes in Easton PA We offer CPR certification at over 13 locations across central Pennsylvania

At In-Pulse CPR we take pride in our quality of teaching. We use the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment to provide for an interactive, experiential learning environment. We make sure that each student leaves the classroom feeling confident in the skills they gained.  Our classes are fun too!

 

Click here to View our Class Calendar 

CPR classes now being offered in Easton Pennsylvania.  Anyone can attend these public classes.  Our classes are currently held monthly at:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Easton
90 Kunkle Drive
Easton, PA 18045

We offer the following certifications:

Heartsaver CPR

Heartsaver AED

BLS Healthcare CPR / Heath care Professional

Heartsaver First Aid

and More…

This class location is near Harmony PA, Lopatcong PA, Stewartsville PA, Bethlehem, Pohatcong, Middletown, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Quakertown, and Bangor PA.  Nearby medical facilities and schools include:  St Luke’s Family Practice, Coordinated Health Phillipsburg, Warren Hospital, Redi-Care Medical Center, Coordinated Health Easton, Center for Specialized Surgery, St Luke’s Hospital, Coordinated Health Bethlehem, St Luke’s School of Nursing, Lincoln Tech nursing, Achieve Test Prep

If you have recently attended a CPR class with In-Pulse CPR we want to hear from you.  Please post your comments below:

Fitness Tips for Someone Who is Just Starting

 

Plenty of people decide at one point or another that it is time for them to start taking their health and fitness more seriously. When this happens, they may choose to improve their dietary choices, or engage in more regular physical activity, however, preferably, they will consider engaging in both. Whether you have been working out for two months or two decades, the chances are that you could be making a few mistakes that are stopping you from getting the most out of your results. When you’re starting off with any exercise program, remember to pace yourself, and be aware of what you’re doing, especially if you’re not a very active person in the first place.

  1. Start Slow

If you have no experience with fitness or exercise whatsoever, it’s important to remember that you’re going to have to take things one step at a time. You can’t simply jump in and begin exercising seven days a week, otherwise you’ll be setting yourself up for disaster. Instead, work up gradually towards exercising a number of days a week, checking on how your body responds.

  1. Make sure you Stretch

Warming up before you start exercising is vital to ensure that you don’t run the risk of any unnecessary injuries. After you have warmed up sufficiently, try stretching your muscles and holding that stretch for about fifteen seconds. You’re less likely to feel the pain of a stretch if you’re already a little warmed up to begin with.

  1. Look for Variety

Whether you’re hoping to lose weight or improve your muscles, a mixed regimen including strength and aerobic training is generally the best way to get your ideal body. What’s more, if you stick to the same exercise every day, you’re going to hit a point where it gets boring and you don’t look forward to it anymore. Engage in different sports and look for things that you enjoy.

  1. Know how to Use Weights

Most people struggle with weights when they first walk into a gym, yet they’re afraid of asking for advice. However, by law, gyms are required to have people on staff that will be able to show you how a machine works, thereby saving you from hurting yourself. In addition, make sure that you don’t make the rookie mistake of selecting the heaviest possible weight as soon as you start lifting.

  1. Take Breaks Regularly

When people first get started with a new fitness regime, it can be easy to get over-enthusiastic and try to hit the gym every single day. However, if you don’t let your body rest, you could be doing more damage than good. It’s perfectly normal, and even good to feel a little bit sore after you’ve had a hard workout, but you shouldn’t be in agony. Be careful about how far you choose to push yourself, and try to avoid taking painkillers once you get back from the gym if you’re feeling a little rough. Taking pills can mask your pain and push you to go further, therefore doing serious damage to your body.

 

 

 

Cardio Exercises that you can do At Home

Finding effective exercises that you can do from the comfort of your own home can be an attractive option to many people, as they offer simplicity and convenience, as well as a way for people to save time and money. The real issue is looking for ways to workout at home when you may not have professional equipment or a lot of space on hand. Often, you will find that you need to be a little more creative if you want to exercise at home, however there are numerous accessible and effective cardio activities that you can do to burn calories, get in shape, and lose unwanted weight.

I’m not telling you it is going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it

  1. Jump Rope

Jump rope is an incredibly simple activity that you can do home, and may even bring you back to the innocent days of your youth. You don’t have to chant any rhymes, just turn a rope with handles and jump over it repeatedly. It’s fantastic cardio, capable of burning as many as 220 calories in twenty minutes, and what’s more, jump ropes are very inexpensive, and don’t require any special skills for use. All you need is a good pair of shoes, a jump rope, some patience and practice. Remember however, that jump rope is a high-impact activity and will require some getting used to. It often looks easier, but can be more difficult when you get around to trying it yourself. Once you’ve become an expert, you can think about variations like alternating feet or jumping with high knees.

  1. Jumping Jacks

Another jump-based exercise, jumping jacks involve repeatedly jumping while circling your arms over your head, and back to your hips. This type of exercise can burn around 100 calories in ten minutes, and you don’t need any skill or equipment whatsoever. To get going, all you’ll need is a sturdy floor and a reliable pair of shoes. Jumping jacks are high in impact, which can be taxing on the joints, but once you’ve gotten used to them, try doing them while holding a medicine ball for an extra challenge.

‘I’m not loosing weight.  I’m getting rid of it.  I have no intention of finding it again’

  1. Jogging or Running in Place

Running or Jogging on the spot is simple and easy, but also capable of getting your heart rate up to a preferable level. It’s also the ideal way to warm your body up for more intense forms of exercise. All you need is a good pair of shoes and a sturdy floor. If you start to get bored of running in place, you can try different variations, such as bringing your knees up high, raising your arms overhead or running with wide knees.

  1. Mountain Climbers

To perform this motion, push your knees in and out from a push-up position. Mountain climbers help to raise your heart rate while building endurance and strength in your core. All you need to get them done is a strong pair of wrists. It is worth remembering however that this activity can be taxing on the shoulders, arms and wrists, so don’t push too far too fast.

 

 

 

Benefits of Good Cardiorespiratory Fitness

 Cardiorespiratory fitness, when combined with muscle endurance, strength, body composition and flexibility make up the five most crucial components of physical health and fitness. Often referred to as aer25637_28obic, endurance or cardio exercise, cardiorespiratory activities, this form of exercise relies upon the ability of your body to provide yourself with enough oxygen to engage in sustained exercise.

When you do regular cardiorespiratory exercise, your lungs, heart and circulatory system work more effectively to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the muscles of your body. There are a wide range of activities you can choose from for this exercise, including biking, running, swimming, dancing and circuit training. Of course, choosing something that you enjoy will motivate you more effectively to stick to your program. So what are the benefits of good cardiorespiratory fitness?

Increased Life Span

Even if you’re already at a healthy weight level for your height and age, cardiorespiratory fitness is an essential part of maintaining your overall health. According to studies conducted within the United States, men who had poor levels of cardio fitness were far more likely to die from numerous causes (twice as likely), than those who were cardio-fit.

Decreased Risk of Diabetes

Researchers in Michigan published a paper regarding the health benefits of regular cardiorespiratory exercise in a journal for the Mayo clinic. The paper confirmed that a lack of aerobic fitness in individuals can prompt negative changes in the metabolic system that in turn may lead to type 2 diabetes. Experts maintain that by engaging in regular cardiorespiratory activity, you can improve your glucose regulation, and insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing your diabetes risk.

Better Bone Health

By engaging in moderate aerobic activities such as jogging or swimming for up to 150 minutes every week, you may be able to avoid suffering from various bone complications, including hip fractures. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, exercising in such a way helps to maintain the strength of your bones by slowing the rate at which bone density is lost.

Reduced Chance of Metabolic Syndrome

Regular workouts regarding endurance can be helpful in preventing metabolic syndrome, according to the CDC. Metabolic syndrome can be recognized as a combination of medical conditions including excess waist fat, high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol and blood sugar. The condition can put you at risk of developing diabetes early, because it makes your cells more resistant to insulin. You may also find that heart complications can occur as a side effect of metabolic syndrome, such as strokes or heart disease.

Promotes Weight Loss

According to a number of experts, dancing, running and swimming are some of the best endurance exercises for helping you to burn more calories and lose excess weight. Usually, a single pound of fat can be equated to around three thousand five hundred calories. Thereby, you can lose a pound a week by cutting five hundred calories out of your diet every day. Endurance exercises and cardiorespiratory fitness can help you burn anywhere up to 872 calories an hour, depending on the intensity of the activity or sport, and your initial body weight.

Healthy eating and exercise benefits

Healthy-Food-1

Keeping yourself physically active through regular exercise routines, and ensuring the proper nourishment of your body with a healthy diet can lead to a host of wonderful benefits, including happiness, increased energy, improved health, and even extra years of life. Diet and exercise are essential when determining a person’s overall health, and making the careful consideration of both an integral part of your lifestyle can have a huge impact on how you look and feel.

According the department of human and health services in the United States, a healthy diet should generally consist of plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole-grains, lean meats, and dairy products that are low in fat. On top of eating well however, you need to minimize your cholesterol, sugar, sodium and fat consumption with regular exercise. Here are just some of the benefits of consistent exercise and healthy eating.

  1. Improved Weight  
Healthy-Food-3

If you suffer from excess weight, or have been established as clinically overweight, eating well and exercising more often can help you to remove that excess bulk and keep it off. If you don’t already have a weight-related problem, then healthy diet and exercise can help you to maintain a healthy weight and reduce your chances of struggling with gains when you are older. Healthy food is often higher in nutrients and lower in calories than other foods, and regular physical activities can burn off extra calories to hone your physique.

  1. More Energy

According to the Institute of Digestive Kidney Diseases and Diabetes, a combination of eating healthy foods and working out can help to kick-start your energy levels and ensure that you feel more aware and alert throughout the day on a physical and mental level. Healthy foods give your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function at optimum levels.

  1. Better Mood
Healthy-Food-2

Exercise is often recommended for people who suffer from instances of anxiety and depression, due to the fact that physical activity can stimulate chemicals in the brain which produce feelings of happiness and relaxation. The more often you work out, the better you will feel. Physical activity, when combined with healthy eating practices can also be an excellent way of improving your physical appearance as you burn through excess weight, and gain muscle and tone. This is a significantly important factor when it comes to boosting your self-confidence.

  1. Diversity

Committing yourself to healthy eating practices and exercise routines is a great way to get yourself out of a rut if you feel as though you’re starting to get bored with your current lifestyle. By seeking out new, active hobbies and finding creative ways to be more physically active, you ensure that you find more diverse and interesting activities. Go dancing with friends, join in with a local sports team, or exercise with co-workers, and you will find that your health improves, but alongside that, so too will your relationships with other people. What’s more, following a healthy diet brings up the opportunity to join culinary and cooking classes, visit organic and healthy markets, and more.

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CNA CPR certification classes at over 13 class locations across Florida

Nursing Assistant CPR certification classes

In-Pulse CPR is one of the largest providers of approved CNA CPR certification classes in the state of Florida.  We currently offer classes across the Tampa Bay area (multiple locations), Orlando, Ocala, Ft Myers, Lakeland, and many other sites across the state.

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Click here to View our Class Calendar 

Our classes are complete and 100% accepted by all CNA employment and educational requirements across Florida.

Certified Nursing Assistant CPR

BLS CPR classes for Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Home Health Aide & CPR Certification, Nursing homes, Personal Care Homes , Assisted Living Facilities, Home Health Care agencies, Hospice care agencies, Private Home Care, and hospitals.

CNA CPR certification classes at over 13 class locations across Pennsylvania

Nursing Assistant CPR certification classes

In-Pulse CPR is one of the largest providers of approved CNA CPR certification classes in the state of Pennsylvania.  We currently offer classes across central and Eastern Pennsylvania including Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Allentown, West Chester, King of Prussia, and many other sites across the state.

Click here to View our Class Calendar

Our classes are complete and 100% accepted by all CNA employment and educational requirements across Pennsylvania.

Certified Nursing Assistant CPR

BLS CPR classes for Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Home Health Aide & CPR Certification, Nursing homes, Personal Care Homes , Assisted Living Facilities, Home Health Care agencies, Hospice care agencies, Private Home Care, and hospitals.

CNA CPR certification classes at over 13 class locations across Minnesota

Nursing Assistant CPR certification classes

In-Pulse CPR is one of the largest providers of approved CNA CPR certification classes in the state of Minnesota.  We currently offer classes across the Twin Cities (multiple locations), Duluth, St Cloud, Rochester, and many other sites across the state.

 

Click here to View our Class Calendar

 

Our classes are complete and 100% accepted by all CNA employment and educational requirements across Minnesota.

Certified Nursing Assistant CPR

BLS CPR classes for Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Home Health Aide & CPR Certification, Nursing homes, Personal Care Homes , Assisted Living Facilities, Home Health Care agencies, Hospice care agencies, Private Home Care, and hospitals.

February is American Heart Month

– a time when people all over the country take a closer look at getting heart healthy.

  • On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a heart attack every 34 seconds.*
  • About every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke.*

*Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2014 Update, American Heart Association

Consider an active and healthy eating lifestyle.  Here are a few stories to help keep your new years resolutions on fitness and eating:

 

 

 

Children and Energy Drinks Do not Mix according to Poison Control Data

Over 40% of all reports regarding energy drinks and U.S. poison control centers involve instances of children beneath the age of six suffering from severe neurological and cardiac symptoms, according to a study presented by the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in 2014.

The somewhat excessive representation of youths is worrying, concerning the number of reports that have emerged regarding serious neurological and cardiac symptoms, according to M.D. Steven Lipshultz, the senior author of the study, and chair of pediatrics at Wayne State University. Lipshultz is also a professor, and chief pediatrician at the Detroit Children’s hospital of Michigan.

Researchers involved in the study carefully analyzed the records between October 2010 and September 2013 regarding the American Association of Poison Control Center’s national data system. This system includes various information calls about energy exposures from healthcare providers and the public to 55 poison control centers in the US. The term ‘exposure’ here refers to the suspected or actual contact an individual has with a substance that has been inhaled, ingested, applied to, absorbed or injected within the body, regardless of clinical manifestation or toxicity. As a result of their analysis, researchers discovered:

  • Major to moderate outcomes had been reported in approximately 42% of cases considering energy drinks that may have been mixed with alcohol and 19% of non-alcohol containing cases.
  • Within the 5156 cases that were reported of energy drink exposure, around 40% were unintentional exposures by younger children (e.g. unplanned or unforeseen).
  • Throughout all age groups that suffered major outcomes, cardiovascular effects, which include conduction abnormalities and abnormal heart rhythms were reported in 57% of all cases. Neurological effects such as seizures and status epilepticus were reported in 55%.

According to the study, energy drinks should not be a part of any pediatric diet, and anyone who may suffer with underlying neurological, cardiac or other medical conditions should consult their healthcare provider regarding the safety of consuming energy drinks.

Some energy drinks contain caffeine of a pharmaceutical grade, as well as additional caffeine taken from natural sources, which can lead to increased rates of blood pressure and a racing heart. Energy drinks that use multiple sources of caffeine have been linked to a higher evidence of side effects, involving the digestive, nervous and cardiovascular systems.

According to Lipshultz, some energy drinks contain around 400mg of caffeine per bottle or can, compared to the 100-150 found in a cup of coffee. Caffeine poisoning can take place in individuals that consumer higher levels than 400mg a day in adults, and higher than 100mg a day in adolescents. For children younger than twelve, caffeine poisoning can take place at over 2.5mg per kilogram of body weight.

Up to now, researchers do not know whether the compounds aside from the caffeine included in energy drinks could contribute to the ill effects that have been noted. Many ingredients have never been tested for their safety in relation to children, and have not been tested in combination either. In 2010, the Food and Drug administration board within the United States banned any pre-packaged energy drinks including alcohol. Since this date, calls made to poison control centers have dropped significantly, supporting the effectiveness of the ban. However, some people still continue to mix their own custom alcoholic energy drinks.

Reports given to poison control centers in the U.S. widely underestimate the issue regarding energy drinks, because a lot of people who suffer illnesses as a result of these beverages do not call the hotlines, and visits to emergency rooms are not included within the statistics. Because of this, the reported data given could only represent the very tip of the iceberg.

Researchers have recently called for the improved labeling of caffeine content drinks, as well as notes regarding the potential health consequences. The hope is to increase the efforts to reduce the exposure of children to energy drinks.

 

 

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Disclaimer:
Use of any advise on this site is purely at your own risk.  The information supplied is designed to accompany CPR and first aid training not to replace.  In-Pulse CPR, Inc disclaims any liability for losses you incur as a result of inaccuracy of the information provided on this website.  Information on this site is for education, supplemental to examination by and advice of medical professionals.   Any information regarding first aid treatments is not meant to replace the advice of medical professionals including physicians, paramedics, emergency room attendants, nurses or other licensed medical personnel.