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Diet fizzy drinks linked with a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes

Drinking diet fizzy drinks could raise your risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to new research.

Scientists in America looked at the diets of over 2,500 people. They found that people who drank a diet fizzy drink every day had a 61% higher risk of a vascular cardiac event, such as a heart attack or stroke, than those who drank no fizzy drinks at all. 

Interestingly, there was no increased risk for those people who drank regular fizzy drinks, compared to no fizzy drinks.

Our senior cardiac nurse Amy Thompson said: “This research seems to show a link between diet fizzy drinks and a greater risk of having a heart attack but it is unclear why this occurs.  We’d need to see much more research before we could draw any definite conclusions.

“We already know that too many high-sugar fizzy drinks are bad for our teeth and excess calories from them can make us put on weight, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Healthier alternatives people can enjoy are water, un-sweetened fruit juice or low fat milk.”


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