Between 80 percent and 90 percent of adults regularly consume caffeine, according to a report on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center website. As little as 100 mg per day, just one cup of brewed coffee, "can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms upon abstinence," the report advises. Signs of addiction often surface when a caffeine user cuts back too quickly, causing the body to react physically and emotionally.
Craving for Caffeine
People rely on caffeine to jump-start their mornings and increase alertness. When an enjoyable indulgence turns into a must-have craving, however, consider whether caffeine has become an addiction. Heavy use of more than 500 to 600 mg daily can trigger irritability, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems or anxiety, a Mayo Clinic website report shows. For people sensitive to caffeine, the stimulant can cause a modest, short-term rise in blood pressure, although any increase is "less than that normally experienced when climbing stairs," notes the International Food Information Council Foundation, a nonprofit foundation for health and nutrition education.
The Caffeine Cycle
Because caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, the brain and other parts of the body respond with a burst of alertness within an hour. After several hours, the effect of caffeine begins to wear off, and a person may feel sluggish or even show signs of depression. When people experience this slowdown, they often consume more caffeine to boost energy levels again, resulting in a cycle that can be hard to break.
Headaches
When coffee and soda drinkers miss a daily dose of caffeine, one of the most common symptoms they might experience is a mild to severe headache. A headache can be a sign of physical dependence on caffeine. After a longer period of caffeine use, people's bodies show tolerance to caffeine, requiring increased amounts of caffeine to produce the same initial results. Many pain relievers contain caffeine, quelling a headache caused by caffeine withdrawal.
Considerations
Moderate coffee and tea drinkers don't need to worry about caffeine-related health issues, but they should consult a physician to ensure caffeine won't exacerbate any existing conditions, the International Food Information Council Foundation notes. When limiting caffeine, gradually cut back by using decaffeinated products and reading food labels, the Mayo Clinic advises. Hidden sources of caffeine include daytime cold and headache medicines, energy drinks, diet pills and foods such as yogurt and ice cream with chocolate or coffee flavors. Decaffeinated drinks contain smaller but still-detectable amounts of caffeine.
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