In the world of ubiquitous coffee shops and energy drinks, caffeine, a common stimulant, has become a regular part of our daily routine. However, excessive consumption could trigger a series of undesired effects. Unveil the lesser-known side of caffeine in our feature, “Caffeine’s Dark Side: Five Potential Hazards of Over-Consumption”.
Caffeine and Anxiety: More Than Just Jitters?
Caffeine’s stimulating properties are celebrated worldwide; however, too much may tip the balance from alertness into anxiety. High doses of caffeine may intensify the brain’s adrenaline response, leading to heightened nervousness and even, potentially, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder. For caffeine-sensitive individuals, even modest amounts can trigger these symptoms. Regular and high consumers alike need to be cautious as this energising compound can ramp up stress levels, regardless of consumption frequency.
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Caffeine and Insomnia: A Sleep Thief?
Praised for its wakefulness-promoting qualities, caffeine might paradoxically rob you of sleep when consumed excessively. A heightened caffeine intake can delay sleep onset and reduce overall sleep time. While moderate amounts may not affect ‘good sleepers’, over-consumption may interfere with your slumber. Also, the time caffeine stays active in your system can vary between individuals, sometimes lasting up to nine hours. Thus, consuming caffeine later in the day may hinder your ability to get a good night’s sleep.
Caffeine and Digestion: Is it Upsetting Your Stomach?
While many welcome the bowel-moving benefits of a morning brew, larger doses may wreak havoc on your digestive system. A surplus of caffeine can trigger loose bowel movements or even diarrhoea, challenging the earlier-held belief that it instigated stomach ulcers. Intriguingly, caffeine has been pinpointed as a factor that exacerbates symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), especially among those who regularly savour a cup of coffee. If you find yourself grappling with continuous digestive unease, it could prove advantageous to lessen your coffee intake or perhaps transition to tea.
Rhabdomyolysis: An Uncommon yet Potentially Grave Consequence
Rhabdomyolysis, a severe medical scenario defined by the breakdown and release of damaged muscle fibres into the bloodstream, which could ultimately trigger kidney failure, has been linked with substantial caffeine intake. While such cases are somewhat infrequent, it’s wise to limit your daily caffeine consumption to roughly 400 mg to bypass this considerable hazard, especially for those who are not regular caffeine users or who demonstrate a sensitivity to its impacts.
Caffeine and Addiction: Can it Get Habit-Forming?
While caffeine does not lead to traditional addiction like certain drugs, it can foster psychological or physical dependency, especially at higher doses. Regular and high caffeine consumers often exhibit a bias for caffeine-related cues and report strong caffeine cravings. Regular users may experience headaches, fatigue, and other withdrawal symptoms. Even though caffeine doesn’t lead to classic addiction, frequent and high consumption can potentially result in dependency.
This material, including advice, provides general information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Take the methods, and claims mentioned in this article as suggestions only; DNP India does not confirm or refute them. Consult a doctor before implementing any such suggestions/ treatment/medicine/diet.
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