Posted on Nov 5, 2014
Service Members: Effects of Energy Drink Consumption on Sleep
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Many people rely on energy drinks to keep themselves going during the day, and service members in combat are no exception. The effects of these drinks, however, seem to be detrimental to both health and performance. Is there a better alternative to these energy drinks?
Military Life
Combat
Servicemembers
Command Post
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 45
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Wow, high levels of caffeine and sugar might be bad for your sleep? Who would have thought?
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LTC Hillary Luton
You know MSG Brad Sand that's what I love about you - you're so logical. Must be a midwestern thing. ;-)
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MSG Brad Sand
Thank you LTC Hillary Luton that might be one of the nicest things someone has said to me in the a while.
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Yes there is a better alternative. It's called being a civilian. I know for me, I don't sleep well because I am subconsciously anticipating the next hit time, or I'm on 24-hour guard, or I am expected to plow 40 acres without a mule (lol that's your reference SGM (Join to see)).
The military life makes a healthy sleeping pattern nearly impossible.
The military life makes a healthy sleeping pattern nearly impossible.
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SGT Suraj Dave
Yeah, I used to love having COB at 2000 and being told I have to be back at 0330 for Weapons draw for our weekly ruck marches..... Then there was that time the rakkasans (3rd BCT 101st ABN) messed up their 20 mile ruck and ended up doing a 22, so our commander had to "Challenge" them by making our guys do a 25 mile ruck...... SO happy I am out of the Army, and I have NORMAL work hours and sleep.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SSG V. Michelle Woods Looks like we suffer from the same ills. I worked a lot of shift work while I was in the service so I lived off of coffee and enrgy drinks. Anyways as a civilian I still have a lot of issues with sleep...lack of it that is ; )
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I am glad RallyPoint brought attention the impact sleep insufficiency has on a person. Yes, energy drinks can have adverse affects, and caffeine has addictive qualities. The most important statistic mentioned here is the 20% cognitive impairment. By drinking these energy drinks, and by not getting enough sleep (whether by choice or not) we are doing a disservice to our country. Would you want someone leading you who is impaired to the point they would get a DUI under different circumstances?
The Wounded Warrior Project 2014 study, surveying over 21,000 wounded veterans found that the top reported health problem for post 9/11 service was sleep conditions (75.8 percent). A different study estimated that as many as 54% of military personnel serving since Sep 11, 2011 experience insomnia (30-40% in the civilian population – not chronic). “Sleep problems often coincide and contribute to other health problems for active duty soldiers and veterans, complicating their return from deployment and combat and elevating their risk for a number of serious physical and mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.” A 2010 study at Madigan Army Medical Center found that troops spent less than 6 hours a night sleeping, and approximately 85% of the participants in the study were found to have a clinical sleep disorder. This study concluded, “Many who deploy don’t return to predeployment sleep levels when they come back.” Are you aware that insomnia is aassociated with an increased risk of suicide independent of other factors?
Are you also aware that Veterans serving in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations have been known to develop a medically unexplained illness identified as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? Despite its name, CFS is not just unexplained, severe, and persistent fatigue, if anything it is similar to illnesses such as mono, Lyme disease, lupus, MS, etc. If you think this 20% cognitive decline is significant, look at the troops and veterans to your left and right because one of them probably has a sleep/fatigue disorder. If you research this further, you will realize that the military and medical communities are putting very little effort in identifying the cause of these problems, and providing effective treatment options. My question is why are we not doing more to prevent and treat these health conditions that appear to be plaguing our force?
The Wounded Warrior Project 2014 study, surveying over 21,000 wounded veterans found that the top reported health problem for post 9/11 service was sleep conditions (75.8 percent). A different study estimated that as many as 54% of military personnel serving since Sep 11, 2011 experience insomnia (30-40% in the civilian population – not chronic). “Sleep problems often coincide and contribute to other health problems for active duty soldiers and veterans, complicating their return from deployment and combat and elevating their risk for a number of serious physical and mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.” A 2010 study at Madigan Army Medical Center found that troops spent less than 6 hours a night sleeping, and approximately 85% of the participants in the study were found to have a clinical sleep disorder. This study concluded, “Many who deploy don’t return to predeployment sleep levels when they come back.” Are you aware that insomnia is aassociated with an increased risk of suicide independent of other factors?
Are you also aware that Veterans serving in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations have been known to develop a medically unexplained illness identified as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? Despite its name, CFS is not just unexplained, severe, and persistent fatigue, if anything it is similar to illnesses such as mono, Lyme disease, lupus, MS, etc. If you think this 20% cognitive decline is significant, look at the troops and veterans to your left and right because one of them probably has a sleep/fatigue disorder. If you research this further, you will realize that the military and medical communities are putting very little effort in identifying the cause of these problems, and providing effective treatment options. My question is why are we not doing more to prevent and treat these health conditions that appear to be plaguing our force?
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MAJ Dallas D.
SGT Kristin Wiley IMHO Sleep Problems are under reported. I am willing to bet it's as high as 75% of Veterans have some sort of sleep problem.
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LTC Scott O'Neil
Energy Drinks are full of chemicals (caffeine, sugar and others) designed to keep you pumped and alert, yet like drugs the person using them tend to crash when the effects wear off. There was a study in the Army medical system, where the Army was looking to inject soldiers with such stimulants to keep them combat effective longer. Then before they crashed due to the use of stimulants, inject them with a melatonin type substance to make them sleep. They found this type of un-natural stimuli can have harmful effects on the body (dehydration, weight gain, creating a chemical imbalance in the body and finally even cause hallucinations and nightmare effects).
I would say that this is true for soldiers taking these stimulants (Redbull, Monster and others) they are burning (life’s) candle from both ends. I hate to harp on leadership but I have to, it is the leadership’s responsibility to ensure for the welfare of the soldiers entrusted to them by the President, Congressman and The American People). If The Army Leadership or their unit leadership puts soldiers in situations that they need this type of stimulant to remain or enhance combat effectiveness then their leadership is poor for not thinking first for the wellbeing of their soldiers and having enough soldiers on the ground to conduct operations. Good rest plans are a part of planning operations 101. When running 24 or 48 hour operations against an active or hostile enemy, it is the leadership’s responsibility to ensure that their soldiers are getting enough rest to maintain combat effectiveness, Leadership 101.
If this is a common trend on today’s battlefield then the Army needs to look within to see if the proper planning is being done and limit or refuse to allow this type of chemical dependency (DRUGS) on the battlefield.
I would say that this is true for soldiers taking these stimulants (Redbull, Monster and others) they are burning (life’s) candle from both ends. I hate to harp on leadership but I have to, it is the leadership’s responsibility to ensure for the welfare of the soldiers entrusted to them by the President, Congressman and The American People). If The Army Leadership or their unit leadership puts soldiers in situations that they need this type of stimulant to remain or enhance combat effectiveness then their leadership is poor for not thinking first for the wellbeing of their soldiers and having enough soldiers on the ground to conduct operations. Good rest plans are a part of planning operations 101. When running 24 or 48 hour operations against an active or hostile enemy, it is the leadership’s responsibility to ensure that their soldiers are getting enough rest to maintain combat effectiveness, Leadership 101.
If this is a common trend on today’s battlefield then the Army needs to look within to see if the proper planning is being done and limit or refuse to allow this type of chemical dependency (DRUGS) on the battlefield.
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SGT Kristin Wiley
LTC Scott O'Neil
Sir,
I agree with you. There is another discussion on Rallypoint called 'Rethinking 24 Hour duties" or something similar, where servicemembers have discussed the impacts of these types of duties. I do not want the U.S. to have a 'softer' military, but a more healthy one. The leadership mindset is still 'train how we fight', which although it is not a negative mindset some of the effects have been negative. Having a soldier stand watch for 24 hours in a non-combat environment is harming their health and performance. In a combat environment, soldiers are aware that 24 hour duties or similiar activities are often necessary to ensure personal safety and complete the mission.
Sir,
I agree with you. There is another discussion on Rallypoint called 'Rethinking 24 Hour duties" or something similar, where servicemembers have discussed the impacts of these types of duties. I do not want the U.S. to have a 'softer' military, but a more healthy one. The leadership mindset is still 'train how we fight', which although it is not a negative mindset some of the effects have been negative. Having a soldier stand watch for 24 hours in a non-combat environment is harming their health and performance. In a combat environment, soldiers are aware that 24 hour duties or similiar activities are often necessary to ensure personal safety and complete the mission.
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