Researchers have discovered that even healthy young adults who should not normally have to worry about their blood pressure can increase their risk for having heart attacks or other cardiac events by consuming energy drinks.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, have found that energy drinks cause a spike in resting blood pressure, especially among those who do not normally drink caffeinated beverages. “We know that energy drink consumption is widespread and rising among young people,” said lead author of the study Dr. Anna Svatikova, a cardiovascular diseases fellow at the Mayo Clinic. “Concerns about the health safety of energy drinks have been raised.”

The study participants consisted of 25 healthy adults aged 19 to 40. The participants drank one can of a commercially available energy drink, and one can of a placebo, not knowing which was which. The research team measured the drinkers’ blood rate and heart pressure both before, and 30 minutes after, each drink was consumed. All participants showed a prominent elevation in blood pressure, but the effect was more pronounced in those considered “caffeine-naïve” – that is, who habitually consumed less than one cup (about 160 mg) of caffeine per day.

“Now we are seeing that for those not used to caffeine, the concern may be even greater,” said Svatikova. “Consumers should use caution when using energy drinks because they may increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, even among young people.” The blood pressure among the group of “caffeine-naïve” participants more than doubled when they drank the energy drinks.

Svatikova’s team presented the findings of their study at the American College of Cardiology’s 64^th Annual Scientific Session in San Diego.

There has already been a push to curtail the marketing of energy drinks to youth among several pop culture and sports icons. Professional snowboarders Brian Fox and Austin Smith began a campaign in 2011 to encourage young fans to drink water instead of heavily-caffeinated energy drinks. However, the energy drink industry still grew by more than 60 percent in 2013, according to a study by Packaged Facts.