Diet Soda and Heart Attacks Linked in New...

Diet soda and heart attacks have been linked in a new study. While researchers did not go so far as to say that daily consumption of the sugarless beverage caused heart problems, they did note the connection.

The study was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, and it found that adults who drink diet soda daily have a 44 percent increased risk of heart attack, and that is significant. Even so, the study did not prove that the sugar-free drink was the cause of the increased heart attack risk.

Lead researcher Hannah Gardener said, "What we saw was an association. These people may tend to have more unhealthy habits. I don't think people should change their behavior based on this study."

Even so, Gardener wants more research on this issue to figure out why diet soda drinkers have an increased heart attack risk. She thinks it could have been because of other lifestyle reasons, but she does not know for sure.

Do you drink diet drinks every day? Have you had a heart attack? Has somebody you know had a heart attack? Would this increased risk cause you to stop drinking sugar-free soda?

Comments: 15

Jenn D. Feb 21, 2012, 12:32am UTC

It does make for some interesting findings. I do not drink diet soda-- or soda of any kind for that matter. I usually stick to Green Tea or Water. I would like to see them do further research on it as well.

Rachel Dillin Feb 22, 2012, 6:20pm UTC

I also drink tea and water mostly. I save diet soda as a treat lol.

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Donkey O'Tee Feb 21, 2012, 12:49am UTC

I imagine Coke have given up worrying about this sort of thing. Not a week goes by where they aren't blamed for something.

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Lillith (it's a secret!) Feb 21, 2012, 12:58am UTC

i gave up all soda pop before i became pregnant & have not had any since. i drink water, V-8, orange juice, & apple juice instead. pop is terrible for you ~ i believe that some kinds actually eat away at your stomach lining.

Rachel Dillin Feb 22, 2012, 6:20pm UTC

It is. I've given up soda multiple times. . . this time will be my last!

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Del Nerkez Feb 21, 2012, 2:32am UTC

oh - this is impossible,

there was scientific, abslote, irrefutable, undenialabe proof that sugar causes heart ad b.p. problems, and we must all switch to saccarhin i mean ah ... well - artificial sweetners immediatly!

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Paul M. Feb 21, 2012, 8:24am UTC

Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi still have caffeine (unless you get the caffeine free variety) which raises your blood pressure. Though I wonder if they tested whether diet soda was worse than regular soda in that regard.

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