Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - If your teen has a coffee, cola or energy drink in his or her hand often, you're not alone.
A new poll finds nearly 1-in-4 parents have a teen who drinks a lot of caffeine. According to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, 23% of parents of teenagers said caffeine is a regular part of their child’s life.
Dr. Kathy Grisanti of Pediatric Urgent Care says she is definitely seeing a lot of teens with caffeine, thanks in part to the rise of coffee shops.
"It seems to be kind of the thing that the kids are coming to school with cup of coffee or Starbucks, and I think kids are getting hooked on caffeine at a younger and younger age," said Grisanti in an interview with WBEN.
Grisanti says there are short- and long-term health risks for excessive caffeine consumption by teens.
"In the short term, we can see anxiety, some dehydration, jitteriness. some stomach upset, headaches, difficulty concentrating, faster heart rate, some elevated blood pressures," Grisanti detailed.
In the long-term, there could be developmental issues.
"Certainly you can see caffeine addiction, caffeine withdrawal, persistent headaches, agitation," Grisanti noted.
Grisanti says parents can play a big role in curbing teen caffeine consumption by setting an example.
"Parents model behavior for their children, so if they see that caffeine is a regular part of the parents' lives, then that often can be modeled and mimicked in their children," warned Grisanti.
She says parents should watch their own caffeine intake, and educate teens about the dangers of using energy drinks and a large amount of caffeine in a short period of time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 12 have no caffeine. They recommend children between 12 and 18 limit their caffeine intake to about 100 milligrams in a day, which, on average, is about one cup of coffee.