Caffeine is a substance found in coffees, teas, energy drinks and soft drinks. Caffeine is also available in supplement products and marketed to individuals looking to fight off drowsiness and feel more energized. It does these things by stimulating the central nervous system. According to the Miami Hurricane, college students often rely on caffeine to stay awake late into the night to complete academic assignments. However, frequent caffeine usage can have short-term and long-term negative effects.
Dependency
As your body becomes accustomed to the large amounts of caffeine, you may become dependent on the substance. As a college student, you may feel as though you need to have multiple cups of coffee throughout the day in order to stay alert for classes.
High Blood Pressure
According to the Western Washington University website, drawbacks of caffeine consumption include increased blood pressure. Due to the stimulation to the central nervous system, the heart rate may increase as well when consuming caffeinated beverages.
Withdrawal
According to the Miami Hurricane, if you drink five to seven cups of coffee on a regular basis, it can lead to a dependency on the substance. If you decrease your intake of the coffee, you may develop withdrawal symptoms. Some symptoms of the withdrawal from caffeine include irritability, headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
Stomach Upset
If you drink large amounts of caffeinated beverages as a college student, it can lead to stomach upset, according to Western Washington University. When you expose the body to caffeine, you are also reducing blood flow to the stomach.
Intoxication
According to California State Poly University at Pomona, when caffeine is consumed by a student in large amounts, it can result in caffeine intoxication. Symptoms of this condition include jitters, heart palpitations, flushing and twitching. The increase number of cases of caffeine intoxication is suspected to be related to the rise in popularity of energy drinks with high amounts of caffeine.
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