Findings of a study have found that almost 45 percent of deployed military personnel drink at least one energy drink per day and nearly 14 percent drink three or more of these drinks daily.
Energy drinks contain ingredients that are intended to boost mental alertness such as sugar and caffeine. Many people consume energy drinks to keep themselves alert when sleepiness kicks in.
Energy Drink As A Mission Essential
Soldiers in war zones have become particularly keen on drinking energy drinks as evidenced by large stocks of these beverages in operating bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.
An agreement between Rip It energy drink makers and defense contractors in 2004 made the high-caffeine beverage more accessible to soldiers who were looking for an energy boost during long hours on duty and at times when drowsiness may have fatal consequences.
"You need to keep awake somehow," said Tim Hsia, an infantry officer who served for six years. He said that many soldiers consider Rip It as a mission essential. "It's paramount to survival, not only for yourself, but for your peers."
Excess Energy Drink Consumption May Cause Sleep Problems
While the military's attachment to energy drinks may have stemmed from the need to be alert and awake, excess consumption of these products can paradoxically increase daytime sleepiness and worsen sleep problems that can impair performance.
Analysis made by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research found that service members who drank three or more energy drinks daily sleep up to four hours less at night than their counterparts who consume no more than two drinks per day.
Those who drank at least three energy drinks per day were also more likely to suffer from sleep disruption associated with stress and illness. They were also more at risk of falling asleep while on guard duty or during briefings.
Consumption Of Energy Drink May Affect Soldier's Performance
Inadequate sleep can have unwanted effects on the memory and the capacity to pay attention when it matters the most for service members.
In the study discussed in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that high levels of energy drink consumption may possibly affect soldiers' performance.
"High levels of energy drink consumption might indirectly impair performance in a military setting," the report reads. "Consuming high doses of energy drinks might affect mission performance and sleep, and that, if used, energy drinks should be consumed in moderation."
Drinking energy drinks is also known to boost stress hormone levels and increase cardiovascular risk.
