Abstract Background The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) among university students has become a prevalent trend, raising concerns about potential health risks. EDs are beverages containing various ingredients, most notably caffeine, taurine, and vitamins, that are consumed by the general public and athletes to reduce exhaustion, boost energy, and improve performance. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ED consumption and evaluate the effects of ED use on cardiovascular health and behavioral patterns in a sample of students at the University of Zakho. Methods This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 438 medical students aged 18-25 at the University of Zakho. Data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, ED consumption habits, awareness of ED-related health risks, and cardiovascular measures such as blood pressure, pulse rate, presence of chest pain, and palpitation. Results The prevalence of consuming caffeine-content EDs was surprisingly high (70%, n=307) among the University of Zakho's medical students. Further categorization revealed that the prevalence was 42% (n=187) among low-frequency drinkers, 22.2% (n=95) among those who drank once a day, and 5.8% (n=25) among the frequent group. A higher percentage of ED drinkers (30%, n=92) developed tachycardia compared to students with a normal pulse (19.2%, n=59). Additionally, ED drinkers had significantly higher rates of elevated blood pressure (56.4%, n=173), palpitations (63.1%, n=194), and chest discomfort (73.2%, n=225) compared to non-drinkers (p <0.0001). Concerning behavioral characteristics, ED drinkers had a significantly higher rate of fatigability (79.3%, n=243) compared to non-drinkers (p <0.0001). They were more likely to experience somnolence (60.8%, n=187) compared to non-drinkers (p <0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of students with aggressive behavior was substantially higher (p <0.001) among ED drinkers (86.2%, n=265). Conclusion The findings collectively highlight the significant negative impact of energy drink consumption on health in general and cardiovascular and behavioral variables in particular. It also underscores the need for public health strategies and campus interventions to reduce ED consumption and raise awareness about their potential risks.

of cardiac risk factors and associated morbidity. These risk factors were mostly contributed in the metabolic syndrome. Objective: The study 14 15 aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with angiographically documented CAD and its relation with the 15 16 severity of CAD. Materials and Methods: In the current cross‐sectional study, a total of 320 patients aged 18 years and older of both genders 16 17 and diagnosed with CAD by medical and clinical examinations and angiography findings were included in the study. Patients with normal 17 18 angiographic or nonsignificant coronary stenosis and those with acute coronary syndrome were excluded from the study. Results: The prevalence 18 19 of metabolic syndrome in patients diagnosed with CADs was 68.4% in this study. The numbers and severity of coronary arteries involved were 19 20 importantly increased through increasing the numbers of the components of the metabolic syndrome that the patient have it. The majority of the 20 21 patients with right coronary artery (67.6%), circumflex artery (63.2%), left anterior descending (66.7%), and multivessel (69.8%) had metabolic 21 22 syndrome with no significant difference (P = 0.913). Moreover, the most of the patients with one vessel (66.4%), two vessels (68.2%), three 22 vessels (72.2%), and four vessels (66.7%) were metabolic syndrome (P = 0.846). Between the individual components, diabetes mellitus (DM) 23 was the most significant risk factor accounts for the number and severity of the CAD in all CAD patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of 23 24 metabolic syndrome is high among patients with angiographically documented CAD. Patients having metabolic syndrome have more severe 24 25 and more complex CAD.