Drinking sugary drinks increases risk of heart disease: study

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Are you drinking too many sugary drinks? Well, it can put you at risk of heart disease like atrial fibrillation, says a study.

It is good to be careful how much sugar goes into our body every day. One of the biggest culprits in putting you at risk for disease is sugary drinks! Those pesky companions may be delicious but they can intrude on your affections and affect your health. A new study has found that drinking two liters or more of sugary drinks can lead to an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, and it’s not just a side effect of sugary drinks.

What are sweet drinks?

Sweetened beverages are beverages that have sugar or sweetener added to sweeten them. Some of these drinks include sodas, fruit drinks, and sweetened teas. These drinks are fizzy or still and are often enjoyed for their sweet taste, but they contain extra calories and can contribute to health problems if consumed in excess.

Side effects of artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners in foods and beverages can cause side effects. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

Atrial fibrillation is a side effect of drinking sweetened beverages

If consumed in large amounts, sugar can be harmful to your health. According to a study by the American Heart Association, drinking two liters or more of artificially sweetened beverages per week increased the risk of atrial fibrillation by 20 percent in people who did not drink any. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia, and it occurs when your heart beats too fast, too slowly, or irregularly.

While drinking sweetened beverages may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation, researchers cannot conclude that one drink increases the risk more than others. Young adults consume more artificially sweetened beverages and young men are found to consume more sugar-sweetened beverages. The study found that people who consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages and juices consumed more total sugar than those who consumed artificially sweetened beverages.

People who consume a lot of artificially sweetened beverages are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Smokers who drank more than two liters of sugar-sweetened beverages per week also had a 31 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation.

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What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of heart arrhythmia, affects the way your heart beats. AFib affects the coordination between the heart’s upper chambers and lower chambers, causing your heart to beat too slowly or too fast. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can also increase your risk of stroke.

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

The best way to treat any condition is to know its symptoms and treat them as soon as possible. Here are the symptoms of the condition that you must be aware of:

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • lack of light
  • Extreme fatigue
  • heart palpitations
  • shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
A woman with her hand on her chest
Know the symptoms of atrial fibrillation. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Takeaway

Drinking two liters of sugary drinks can put you at risk of atrial fibrillation, a dangerous heart problem that can lead to many complications, including stroke and death. It is best to replace sugary drinks with healthy drinks to keep your heart health as well as overall health in check.

About the author

Aarushi Bidhuri is a journalist with 7 years of experience writing, editing and conceptualizing story ideas in various genres like health and wellness, lifestyle, politics, beauty, fashion etc. Aarushi has a strong connection in the industry, which helps her write short and original stories as she believes in working towards works that will enlighten people. ,Read more

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