GUZZLING just six fizzy drinks per week is enough to increase your risk of a serious heart condition linked to strokes, a new study warns.
Scientists in China found that full-fat pop and its diet equivalent have similarly dangerous effects on the heart.
GettyJust six fizzy drinks a week is enough to increase your risk of atrial fibrillation[/caption]
The study, which looked at data from more than 200,000 adults in the UK, found those who quaffed two litres of the stuff per week were at higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), which causes irregular heartbeat.
AF is linked to around one in five strokes, according to the Stroke Association.
And strokes in people with AF are more severe and are more likely to result in death or serious disability.
Lead study Dr Ningjian Wang, from Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, said: “We recommend that people reduce or even avoid artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages whenever possible.”
They found those who drank two litres of low-calorie drinks a week, like Diet Coke, were at a 20 per cent increased risk of AF.
Meanwhile, those who drank similar amounts of beverages containing added sugar, like full-fat Coke or squash, had a 10 per cent higher risk of AF.
Commenting on the research, Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said that more studies are needed to have a definitive answer on the link between AF and sweetened drinks.
She added: “We already know that diets high in sugar are linked to high calorie diets which can cause weight gain and obesity.
“In turn, this increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory diseases.”
She added: “With sugar-sweetened drinks being one of our top sources of sugar in our diets, cutting back on these is a good place to start to reduce your intake.”
The latest research, published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, looked at the health data of 201,856 Brits.
During the nearly 10-year follow-up period, there were 9,362 cases of AF.
Which is worse? Diet or sugar-laden drinks?
Dr Ningjian, said the findings “cannot definitively” conclude which, diet or full sugar, is most dangerous for our health because some people may drink more than one type of drink.
However, he said we should not “take it for granted that drinking low-sugar and low-calorie artificially sweetened beverages is healthy.”
“It may pose potential health risks,” he added.
New advice from the World Health Organisation says switching sugar for sweeteners will not help you lose weight and may cause cancer.
A separate study, published in the Diabetes Journal, found people who consumed artificial sweeteners were more at risk to the type 2 diabetes compared with those who didn’t.
Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: “This is interesting, but as the authors say, the work is far from proving drinking artificial sweetened drinks ’cause’ AF.
“Even though the authors tried to adjust for many factors, there is a strong chance that other behavioural aspects linked to drink behaviour could be more relevant as a cause of AF rather than the drinks themselves.”
How to test for atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm condition in the UK, affecting around 1.6 million people. And here is how to test for it:
Feel for your pulse on your wrist
By using a timer, count how often the beats come (it should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute)
If you suspect you have an irregular pulse contact your GP
Source: The Stroke Association
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:
F = Face drooping – if one side of a person’s face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it’s uneven then you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S = Speech difficulty – if a person’s speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 – if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Difficulty finding words
Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
Sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
A sudden and severe headache
Difficulty understanding what others are saying
Difficulty swallowing
If any of these symptoms occur for less than a few hours, you could be suffering from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
This attack, which is sometimes known as a “mini-stroke”, indicates that there is a problem with the blood supply to your brain.
It’s important to contact your GP or local hospital if experiencing these symptoms, as they could increase your risk of stroke in the near future.