f you have a tween or teen, chances are you’ve probably had energy drinks in your house.

The drinks are more popular than ever among young people, but should your kid be drinking them?

Some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as four cups of coffee.

Caffeine can cause multiple health issues in kids, including anxiety, tremors and heart palpitations.

Energy drinks vs. sports drinks

Sports drinks are designed for athletes who need to rehydrate quickly during intense workouts. They contain water, sugar and electrolytes to replace fluids lost through sweat.

Energy drinks are meant to boost alertness and energy.

They generally contain caffeine, but also may include vitamins and other herbal additives.

While kids often don’t need sports drinks, they are better than energy drinks. Water is the best option to keep kids hydrated, but sports drinks can be beneficial for kids who participate in long or intense workouts.

Caffeine and kids

Many adults can ingest small amounts of caffeine without experiencing any side effects. However, caffeine affects kids differently.

Some of the main health risks kids may have from drinking caffeinated energy drinks include:

• Increased heart rate

• High blood pressure

• Irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations

• Insomnia

• Frequent urination

• Increased blood sugar

Kids drinking caffeinated energy drinks regularly can lead to a caffeine dependency with withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability and flu-like symptoms if they don’t have caffeine.

Young athletes beware

Energy drinks often lure young athletes because they promise to boost sports performance, but energy drinks can have the opposite effect on kids.

Caffeine is a stimulant and can cause young athletes to experience irregular heartbeat, tremors and difficulty with fine motor control during athletic performance.

Young athletes should always hydrate with plenty of water before drinking anything else.

If your young athlete feels they need more energy for practices and competitions, here are a few suggestions.

• Eat more – Eating regular meals and nutritious snacks can boost energy.

• Stay hydrated – Water is the best option, but sports drinks may be appropriate for long practice days.

• Get enough sleep – Most tweens and teens need 8-12 hours of sleep, but many admit they don’t get that much.

Did you know?

Lehigh Valley Health Network athletic trainers provide health services to teams in Carbon County, including Jim Thorpe and Lehighton school districts.

If you are interested in learning more about keeping your young athlete healthy, call 610-402-8900 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dimitry Belogorodsky at LVPG Orthopedics and Sports Medicine–Carbon.