A Look At The Negative Effects Of Caffeine
The negative effects of caffeine are fairly well documented, and have been experienced by many of us at one time or another.
There are a number of different symptoms which one might experience when taking in more caffeine than the body is willing to accept. Even those of us who enjoy our morning coffee and generally look forward to a cup to start the day, will once in a while recognize that we've taken in a little too much. Caffeine isn't a bad thing; it has its positive aspects as well.
The negative effects of caffeine usually occur either when:
You have had an overdose of caffeine
You are allergic to caffeine
Those who are allergic to caffeine may experience side effects that are mild or barely noticeable, or at the other extreme, a violent reaction. Treatment of a caffeine allergy is quite straightforward, though perhaps not to enjoyable to contemplate if one has a liking for coffee, tea, cola drinks or chocolate - the food items containing the most caffeine. Treatment consists simply of removing these food items from the diet.
Fortunately, most of us do not have a caffeine allergy, but still may need to cut back on occasion, and even make a few changes to our lifestyle if we are feeling the negative effects of caffeine on a frequent basis.
Caffeine Is Not Stored - One can go down the list of the more common side effects of caffeine and see which items are being experienced. If several different side effects are being experienced, then it may be necessary to cut back on the caffeine intake, or simply go without it for a while.
The symptoms may not vanish overnight, although some of them possibly will, and in some cases the body may need to do some healing before it can accept any more caffeine. Notice though, earlier in this article the term "overdose" is used, and not "caffeine build up". When we eat or drink something containing caffeine, the caffeine is absorbed immediately into the bloodstream and goes, among other places, to the brain, which is why coffee is such a quick pick-me-up. The body does not store caffeine however, and it is eventually excreted in the urine.
The Most Common Negative Effects Of Caffeine - The negative effects of caffeine can be troublesome though, and some of these effects could, over time, lead to a more serious condition.
Symptoms may include:
Waking up tired, or lacking energy, even though caffeine is a pick-me-up.
Too much caffeine can cause muscle pain and soreness, especially in the back, and stomach pain as well.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is believed to have a connection with our intake of caffeine, though caffeine is not the sole cause of RLS.
Many people who consume a cup or two of coffee more than usual in one sitting have experienced a rapid heartbeat, or an irregular heart beat. Caffeine is in some respects considered to be good for the heart, but too much can cause some rather scary symptoms.
We all have come across people who are on a bit of a coffee or caffeine high, and as a result, are not only quite alert and energetic, but can be quite irritable as well, sometimes even displaying quickness of temper or anger.
Negative effects of caffeine can also cause feelings of anxiety and mood swings, up to and including panic attacks.
Of course most of us are familiar with one of the more common side effects, the difficulty or inability to go to sleep, especially after having had an extra cup of coffee late in the day. This difficulty in sleeping may be occasional, or can lead to chronic insomnia.
Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms - Caffeine generally is not considered harmful to one's health, though medical experts will advise that the intake of caffeine should be moderate. There are also symptoms associated with caffeine withdrawal, and if it seems advisable to cut back on caffeine or cut it out completely, a gradual cutting back may be the best approach.
It may come down to deciding which is the better of two evils, the negative side effects, or the withdrawal symptoms, and try to strike a balance between the two.