Energy drinks under microscope

It hasn't been a good year for the makers of energy drinks.

First, a study presented to the American Heart Association suggested a link between an increase in blood pressure and changes in heart rhythm to energy drinks.

Then the U.S. Senate held a hearing to investigate deaths and hospitalizations associated with the popular products, expressing concern that the drinks were being marketed to children and teens.

And now, a poison expert from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School says he is fielding more calls than ever related to young people suffering problems after drinking energy drinks that are so readily available on store shelves.

Steven Marcus told the Homes News Tribune that there are inherent dangers associated with energy drink side effects not unlike certain types of medicines. And he said that the highly caffeinated beverage can affect different parts of the body that can eventually lead to heart problems.

The American Medical Association has also been vocal about potential dangers surrounding energy drink heart attacks and recently encouraged a ban on the marketing of them to children and teens.

And the potential risks are not lost on the Food and Drug Administration. Over the past few months, the agency began investigating reports of deaths linked to energy drinks. However, the FDA currently does not have any regulatory control over the makers of such drinks as Monster, Red Bull and Rockstar, which all can contain as much caffeine as five cans of soda.

Meanwhile at least one wrongful death lawsuit has been filed over the death of 14-year-old Anais Fournier, who died in 2011 after drinking two 24-ounce Monster Energy drinks.