They are as commonplace in early morning classrooms as droopy eyelids.

Energy drinks high in caffeine and other stimulants are used by students to help them make it through their day.

“I usually drink them three to four times a week,” said Shea Wintersteen, post-graduate student of biology. “I only drink them at school to keep me going.”

However, these daily aids have a potentially harmful effect on the body.

“Drinking too much caffeine can cause jitteriness and shakiness,” said Judith Lukaszuk, associate professor of nutrition. “Some of my students have reported having cardiac arrythmias after drinking beverages such as Monster or Red Bull.”

Cardiac arrythmias occur when the heart misses a beat or beats too quickly.

Senior economics major Brent Wilkinson limits his caffeine intake and does not worry about the side effects.

“I rarely have them,” he said. “I’ll have one if I was up all night studying, but I’m not too worried about how it will impact my body.”

Lukaszuk has tips for other ways to increase your energy.

“I would suggest eating six small meals per day,” she said. “Eight hours of sleep every night will help you feel well-rested, boost your energy levels and keep your immune system optimized.”

Many energy drink brands feature a sugar-free or low-carbohydrate option. Lukaszuk does not believe that this option makes a major difference in the effects of the drink on the body.

“Low-carb or sugar-free beverages might have less calories and less sugar, but the overall caffeine counts do not change,” she said. “The product is not any healthier for you.”

Many of the energy drinks on the market feature warning labels to limit the amount of intake per day and warn against consumption by pregnant women. Senior sociology major Tracy Kosirog said that the warning labels do not go far enough.

“I think that there should be a label that lists the side effects of the drinks,” she said. “Not everyone knows how they impact your body.”

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