How Does Pre-Workout Affect Teenagers?

By: Logan Antio

Editor: Grace Pilkay

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Some people may need a boost in energy to be able to perform at their peak. If so, you may

have heard of, or used pre-workout. But is pre-workout safe for teenagers? First, let’s review

what kind of ingredients are in pre-workout. There are many kinds of pre-workout, but here are some popular ones: Six Star Pre-workout explosion, C4 Original, and Ryse blackout. These supplements all have pump-enhancing complexes, such as Beta-Alanine, L-Arginine,

L-Citrulline, and Taurine and Vitamins like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. These

supplements also contain high amounts of caffeine to provide an energy boost. Six Star contains 135mg, C4 with 150mg, and Ryse with 350mg. The recommended caffeine intake for teenagers should be no more than 100mg of caffeine, equivalent to a cup of coffee or two sodas. And all of these supplements contain more caffeine than is recommended for teenager use. A 20-year-old woman was experiencing chest pain, coughing, and sweating after taking pre-workout. When she arrived at the hospital she had been diagnosed with a mild heart attack caused by the caffeine in which was present in her blood. Habitual use of caffeine in teenagers can cause higher blood pressure and increased vascular resistance. Prolonged use of high amounts of caffeine could even cause heart palpitations, extra heartbeats, chest pain, increase chances of heart attacks, feeling restless, not being able to sleep, and trouble staying asleep. Lacking sleep and being stressed from school could even worsen these effects. Teens may even experience withdrawal symptoms around the same time they take their pre-workout, which could include headaches, sleepiness, or irritability. Overall, teenagers should be cautious with the amount of caffeine they’re consuming, having the proper serving size, and knowing the possible side effects of taking pre-workout.