Are caffeinated drinks really that dangerous to our health? A 32-year-old mom was recently fitted with a pacemaker after drinking excessive amounts of energy drinks.

Learn how energy drink addiction, "worse than heroin," can create health issues at any age.

Keeping up with modern life

A New York post describes a British mom, Samantha Sharpe, and her quest to keeping up with her three kids. She had a busy life ahead of her and needed the energy to fulfill every role as a caring mother.

So, she turned to energy drinks.

Surprisingly, she was drinking up to six cans of energy drinks daily until one day when health issues began to plague her.

After visiting her doctor, she was informed that she had to be fitted with a pacemaker because her heart rhythms were dangerously off.

What are the risks associated with Energy Drinks?

The primary ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine. So, when you drink more than a can a day, you're adding more caffeine content to your diet.

And drinking many cans of these caffeinated drinks every day will force your heart to beat at irregular rhythms. Over time, your heart will slowly begin to lose its natural rhythm.

When this happens, cardiovascular problems will set in with subtle ease. But you might not realize the issue until a severe problem, such as a heart attack, arises.

NIH has warned that energy drinks "can be dangerous because large amounts of caffeine may cause serious heart rhythm, blood flow and blood pressure problems."

These drinks can also disrupt sleep patterns, contribute to digestive problems, cause heart palpitations and anxiety, lead to dehydration and increase blood pressure, according to the NIH

Link Between Energy Drinks and Pre-Existing Conditions

When consumed in large quantities, energy drinks can undoubtedly harm your health. According to the US National Library of Medicine reports, serious issues can arise more rapidly if there's a personal history of heart diseases or arrhythmia in your family.

Researchers at the American Heart Association have warned that energy drinks can be "life-threatening". Especially for people with already high blood pressure or cardiac issues.

However, researchers insist that you don't necessarily need to have existing heart problems for energy drinks to impact your health negatively. If you use illicit drugs, combining them with high amounts of caffeinated beverages can trigger heart issues.

What are the alternatives?

If you want to stay energized without using energy drinks, Villanova University recommends eating a balanced breakfast and soy foods. They also recommend drinking water and green tea.