+ health
Danger By Megan Weltner in the mix
The hazard of combining alcohol and energy drinks
After a long week of studying and waking up for 8 a.m. class, Blair Brosnahan, Plano, Texas, senior, typically likes to relax on Friday nights with a Red Bull and vodka.After studying all week and lacking sleep,Brosnahan feels it is the best way for her to be able to enjoy time with her friends.
Brosnahan is not alone. A study conducted by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at East Carolina University showed that half of Red Bull drinkers consume more than one Red Bull a month and half of these students mix the energy drink with alcohol. Yet, because of its negative effects, the fad is a dangerous one.
more you drink, the more you slow down each of your organs and everything functions at a slower rate. When these two are mixed, it is the perfect recipe for disaster.
"When the average student consumes five to six drinks, they will begin to feel tired or sick. This is their body telling them it is time to stop consuming alcoholic beverages," says Stephen llardi, associate professor of psychology."When an energy drink such as Red Bull is put in the picture it allows the body to tolerate more alcohol without feeling the depressant effect."
And by major; she means rapid heart rate, shortness of breath and disorientation. The
"It's back to the basics," says jenny McKee, health educator at Watkins Health Center."An energy drink like Red Bull is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant. You just don't mix the two. The health risks involved are major."
In other words, energy drinks hinder your body's ability to give you the warning sign that it is time to stop drinking. The Department of Emergency Medicine at Wake Forest University reports that students who mix alcohol with these stimulants are at a greater risk for alcohol-related consequences, such as being taken advantage of sexually, driving drunk, being physically injured, or requiring medical treatment.
Some students claim that the morning after can be the worst part: "I feel like shit the morning after I drink a Red Bull and vodka. I'm not sure if it is because I'm up all night or because of the sugar in the drink. Whatever it is, it's not fun." says Matt Schmidt-Phillips, St. Louis senior.
Recipe for disaster: Mixing stimulants such as energy drinks and depressants such as alcohol allows a body to tolerate more alcohol with feeling the depressant effect.
Yet, some students feel they have no choice when it comes to keeping their energy up until the wee hours of the morning. With a demanding school schedule, a good night's sleep can be hard to find.
Photo Illustration by Chance Dibben
Other recommended ways for students to get a shot of energy before they hit the bars would be to go for a run or play a mind game on the Internet. These activities stimulate your
Crash-inducing concoctions: Some students have gruesome hangovers after a night of slamming a couple of energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Other ways to stimulate the mind that don't include mixing depressants and stimulants include exercising and playing a stimulating mind game.
Photo Illustration by Chance Dibben
brain and get your heart rate going. But if you are so tired that you need an energy drink to stay awake, go to sleep.
When your body is begging for slumber, pounding a Red Bull and vodka may not be the best option. Stick to some physical exercise, a mind game or maybe even skip that one night at The Wheel and make a date with TiVo and your bed. JP
Oops! ... I did it again
Top 10 mistakes made while drinking energy drinks and vodka:
1. Buying a round of shots for 20 strangers
... because it's last call
2. Deciding to stay up until the afternoon football game the next day
3. Dipping into other questionable substances.
4. Driving
5. OrderingTryyaki and Pokey Sticks because you just couldn't decide what sounded better
6. Stalking your ex-girlfriend/boyfriend
7. Watching re-runs of Rock of Love because you can't sleep
8. Getting on Facebook (entering a interactive social website while intoxicated ought to be deemed illegal)
9. Waking up your roommates with a serenade of the Backstreet Boys "I Want it That Way"
10. Jumping into the Chi Omega fountain only to find that it is empty
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January 29, 2009