A French woman with no family history of heart problems was diagnosed with a dangerous vascular condition after drinking only soda for 16 years.
The 31-year old woman fainted near her home in southern France, after being rushed to the hospital doctors revealed she was suffering from a condition called long QT syndrome that causes irregular heart beats, LiveScience reported.
Blood tests also revealed the woman had low potassium levels, though she had no documented family history of either heart or hormone issues. She told the doctors she had not drank any water since the age of 15, and quenched her thirst only with soda. She consumed about two liters of cola a day.
After being cut off from soda for only a week, the woman's potassium levels and heart function returned to normal. Drinking too much soda has been proven to affect both potassium levels and heart health.
Too much cola can cause excess water to build up in the bowels, leading to diarrhea. Excessive diarrhea often causes loss of potassium in the body. Consuming high amounts of caffeine can increase urination and make it harder for the body to absorb the needed potassium.
The medical researchers found six other cases of excessive soda consumption leading to health problems such as irregular heart beat. Cola can also cause wight gain, which is a leading cause of heart disease.
"One of the take-home messages is that cardiologists need to be aware of the connection between cola consumption and potassium loss, and should ask patients found to have QT prolongation about beverage habits," said Dr. Naima Zarqane, of Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco, who worked on the study.
The researchers suggested further studies to find out the exact correlation between soda consumption and low potassium levels.
"Common sense and critical thinking should tell us that relying solely on soda for fluid intake is not healthy," said Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian and an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern at Dallas, according to DoctorsLounge. "Heavy reliance on any one single food or beverage is not recommended."
