Caffeine, a stimulant found naturally in coffee, tea, cola and chocolate, is a widely used drug consumed in food or medicine, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In addition, man-made caffeine is added to some foods, drinks, prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. The main effect of caffeine is to make you feel more alert for a while, but it can also cause problems. Possible benefits must be weighed against adverse effects.
Central Nervous System Effects
In addition to increasing alertness and ability to concentrate, caffeine may also, according to the FDA, make you jittery and shaky, make your heart beat faster and with an uneven heart rhythm, raise blood pressure, make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep and cause headaches, nervousness or dizziness. Caffeine is added to some medications to treat tiredness or drowsiness and is added to some pain relievers to improve their effects. The FDA indicates that people with heart problems should not use caffeine and people with anxiety problems or panic attacks may feel worse when they use caffeine.
Caffeine increases body temperature, increases the release of acid in the stomach and can lead to heartburn. Caffeine's effects on mood range from pleasant stimulation and mood elevation to anxiety, nervousness and irritability, according to the International Coffee Organization.
Diuretic Effect
As a diuretic, caffeine makes your body lose water, according to the FDA. Caffeine-containing beverages do not quench thirst. Use caffeine-containing beverages in moderation, if at all, and in addition to water and other fluids, not instead of them, according to Eleanor Whitney and Sharon Rolfes in "Understanding Nutrition." Take care to drink extra water rather than caffeine-containing beverages in the heat or when working out to prevent dehydration.
Effect on Bones
Caffeine has been positively associated with risk of hip fracture in middle-aged women, according to Sareen Gropper, Jack Smith and James Groff in "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism." Caffeine minimally affects calcium balance and may be weakly associated with the development of osteoporosis.
Effect on Endurance
Caffeine may enhance endurance, according to "Understanding Nutrition." Caffeine may stimulate the release of fatty acid, which slows the use of glycogen for fuel and attenuates the feeling of fatigue. Athletic competitions generally prohibit or limit the amount of caffeine prior to competition.
Effect on Pregnancy
Caffeine crosses the placenta and the fetus has a limited ability to metabolize it. A small amount of caffeine during pregnancy is safe, but larger amounts can be harmful, according to the FDA. If pregnant or planning a pregnancy, speak to your doctor about using caffeine.
Effect with Alcohol
When alcoholic beverages are mixed with energy drinks containing caffeine, a popular practice among young persons, the stimulant effects of caffeine mask the depressant effects of alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drinkers who consume energy drinks mixed with alcohol are three times more likely to binge drink than those who do not mix alcohol with energy drinks.
Tolerance Effect
People who use caffeine every day build up a tolerance to it and don't get the "good effects" of feeling alert and being able to concentrate unless they consume more of it. A person who gets withdrawal symptoms when he suddenly stops using caffeine has a physical dependence on caffeine. Withdrawal symptoms may include severe headaches, muscle aches, depression and irritability.
References
- FDA: Medicines in My Home: Caffeine in Your Body
- International Coffee Organization: Caffeine
- "Understanding Nutrition, Ninth Edition"; Eleanor Noss Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes; 2002
- "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism"; Sareen Gropper, Jack L. Smith and James L. Groff; 2009
- CDC: Alcohol and Public Health: Fact Sheets -- Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages
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