Caffeine acts as a minor stimulant for the central nervous system and may cause effects that mimic those of other stimulants, such as amphetamine and cocaine. This substance can be found in cola drinks, chocolate, tea and coffee. Its effects can be felt 15 minutes after consumption, says the Harvard Health Publications, but it can take several hours before it stops affecting the body. Caffeine can be addictive and, although it may have some positive effects when consumed moderately, it can also cause serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Addiction
Regular caffeine consumption, such as four cups of coffee per day, can cause addiction, states the American Heart Association. The withdrawal symptoms of caffeine can be quite severe and cause such symptoms as irritability, headaches, depression, anxiety, and drowsiness. These symptoms can last up to two days if a person suddenly stops consuming caffeine.
Insomnia
The effects of caffeine can be felt for up to six hours. Thus, according to the Mayo Clinic, it may take up to six hours for a person to be able to fall asleep after consuming caffeine. Some people also take longer to reach a deeper sleep stage after consuming caffeine. People who drink the substance regularly may begin to suffer from insomnia.
Memory Functions
Dr. Florian Koppelstaetter and colleagues stated in a meeting of the "Radiological Society of North America" in December 2005, that caffeine activates the frontal lobes in the brain. Since these areas are responsible for attention and short-term memory, caffeine is likely to have a positive effect on these functions. Yet, in a May 2007 issue of the "Biochemical Biophysiological Research Community Journal", Dr. Han Me and colleagues reported that regular consumption of caffeine can slow down the function of the hippocampus. This area of the brain is the home of long-term memory and learning. Thus, regular caffeine consumption may slow down memory and learning in the long run.
High Blood Pressure
The Mayo Clinic states that caffeine can significantly raise a person's blood pressure, but not everybody feels this effect. Luckily, even those people that get hypertension as a result of caffeine consumption typically have this effect for a short period of time. It has been speculated that the increase in blood pressure happens because caffeine blocks a hormone that widens the arteries. The Mayo Clinic also states that it might result from an adrenaline release caused by caffeine. The Harvard Health Publications points out, however, that moderate caffeine consumption does not cause long-term hypertension.
References
- Harvard Health Publications: Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women's Health Watch
- Mayo Clinic: How does caffeine affect blood pressure?
- "Biochem Biophys Res Commun Journal"; Inhibitory Effects of Caffeine on Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Function; Han ME, Park KH, Baek SY, Kim BS, Kim JB, Kim HJ, Oh SO; May 2007
- American Heart Association: Caffeine
- Daily News Central: Caffeine Boosts Brain's Short-Term Memory Function
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