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Whether you like the taste or not, there’s no doubt that just a couple of sips of Red Bull will give you a bit of an energy boost.

For years, the drink has helped students stay awake during exam revision, kept drivers alert on long-distance journeys and, with a shot of Jägermeister, given party-goers a pick-me-up on a night out.

But a new study showed that drinking one 32 ounce can of a commercially available energy drink resulted in more "profound changes" in the heart's electrical activity and blood pressure than drinking the same amount of a control drink containing the same amount of caffeine.

Researchers warned that people who have high blood pressure, underlying cardiac conditions or other health issues might want to avoid energy drinks until more is known about their impact on heart health.

The study was led by Doctor Emily Fletcher, deputy pharmacy flight commander from David Grant USAF Medical Centre at Travis Air Force Base in California.

Dr Fletcher said: "We decided to study energy drinks' potential heart health impact because previous research has shown 75 per cent of the base's military personnel have consumed an energy drink."

She said, based on this preliminary evidence in young, healthy adults, people who have high blood pressure, underlying cardiac conditions or other health issues might want to avoid or use caution when consuming energy drinks until more is known about their impact on heart health.

Dr Fletcher added: "This is a small study and further studies are needed to confirm these results."

An infographic by website Personalise.co.uk has shown the stomach-churning impact a can of the energy drink can have on your body.

From rising blood pressure to constipation the drink takes its toll from the first sip to 12 days later, according to information sourced from the NHS and Red Bull websites.

The breakdown details the initial spike in energy followed by the dastardly sugar crash.

The researchers add: “Guidelines for caffeine are 400mg per day and so having a can of this every day shouldn’t pass this.

“Yet the sugars and addiction that can be produced from doing this is something you should consider.”

They also add that a Starbucks Venti Caffe Americano contains 300mg of caffeine – nearly four times that of a 250ml can of Red Bull.

This is what Personalise.co.uk says happens next

After 10 minutes

Once you consume an energy drink it takes around 10 minutes for the caffeine to enter your bloodstream. Your heart rate and blood pressure start to rise.

After 14-45 minutes

The time your caffeine level peaks in your bloodstream. You’ll feel more alert as the stimulant starts to affect you, improving not only concentration but also how alert you are.

After 30-50 minutes

All the caffeine is fully absorbed, your liver also responds by absorbing more sugar into the bloodstream.

After one hour

Your body starts to experience a sugar crash as well as the effects of the caffeine dying down – you’ll start to feel tired and energy levels will start to feel low.

After five to six hours

This is the half life of caffeine, meaning it takes five to six hours for your body to reduce the content of caffeine in your bloodstream by 50%. Women on birth control tablets require double the length for their body to reduce it.

After 12 hours

The time it takes most people to fully remove caffeine from their bloodstream. The speed at which this happens does depend on many factors from age to activity.

After 12-24 hours

As caffeine is a drug those who regularly drink items with it can feel withdrawal symptoms 12-24 hours after the last dose. These often include headaches, irritability, and constipation.

After seven to 12 days

Studies have shown this to be the timeframe for your body to become tolerant to your regular caffeine dosage, meaning you’ll get used to it and so won’t feel the effects as much.

So what's good about them?

Although high in caffeine, energy drinks like Red Bull are well within the guideline maximum 400mg with a typical 250ml can containing 80mg.

Energy drink companies often compare their drinks to coffee with many options at coffee shops being higher in caffeine.

And what's bad about them?

Often high in sugar and calories, there are other ingredients which can have bad effects on you.

These include caffeine, a stimulant drug, which can cause anxiety, stomach upsets, dehydration, and increased heart rate.

In America admissions to emergency departments which were energy drink-related doubled from 2007 to 2014, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Dawn Report.