Research conducted on the food habits of over 40,000 men across 12 years suggests that men who drank two sweetened drinks a day had a 23 percent higher chance of developing heart failure. The study was published in the British Medical Journal, Monday.

CNN reports that co-author Dr. Susanna Larsson, of the Stockholm Karolinska Institute says that people who drink these beverages should limit their intake, to reduce the risk of future heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is not strong enough to pump necessary amounts of blood and oxygen to support the body. Over six million people in the United States live with heart failure. With an aging population, with more and more people surviving heart attacks, the number of those living with a failing heart are on the rise around the world.

Dr. Roberto Bolli, the chief of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine refers to living with heart failure as “…a very miserable life.” According to Bolli, those with heart failure are limited in their daily activities, and often are out of breath doing activities as simple as walking around the house.

Heart failure sufferers also may find themselves out of breath when lying in bed, suffer from swollen legs, and have chest pain. The Heart Failure Society of America says that less than half of those sufferers are alive after five years, and less than 25 percent are alive after ten years.

The study covered only soft drinks and soda, sweetened with sugar or an artificial sweetener. Juice, coffee and tea were not included in the study. Additional studies are required to see the affect of sugary drinks on women, younger age groups, and different ethnicities.

This is the first study to look at heart failure risk, as connections to heart disease and stroke from consumption of sweetened beverages have shown up in the past.