Drinking coffee can give you that boost you need when you are tired and sluggish. Most coffees contain caffeine, a mild stimulant that can excite your central nervous system, alleviate fatigue and increase your alertness. According to the Harvard Health Publication, caffeine may also reduce your risk of developing gallstones, liver damage, colon cancer and diabetes. Large amounts of caffeine can cause nervousness, restlessness, irritability, rapid heartbeats, anxiety, tremors and headaches. MayoClinic.com reports that moderate amounts of coffee consisting of 200 mg to 300 mg per day should not affect your health long-term, but some health risks can arise when drinking caffeinated coffee.
Blood Pressure
Drinking caffeinated coffee can cause your blood pressure to rise, even if you do not drink coffee on a regular basis, according to MayoClinic.com. Caffeine can prevent your arteries from widening and increase your adrenaline levels, which can slightly elevate your blood pressure. The MayoClinic.com reports that drinking coffee does not cause long-term high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you should avoid or limit the amount of coffee you drink. The MayoClinic.com recommends that you limit your caffeinated coffee consumption to no more than 24 oz. per day.
Cholesterol Levels
If you drink caffeinated coffee, you may experience an increase in your cholesterol levels. According to the Harvard Health Publications, coffee contains cafestol and kahweol, two substances that can raise your cholesterol levels if you are a regular coffee drinker. Paper filters can provide some protection against these substances, but only if you drink filtered coffee drinks. Even if you drink decaffeinated coffee, the beans used in some of those coffees can still raise your cholesterol levels.
Dehydration
You may become dehydrated if you drink more than 500 mg to 600 mg of caffeinated coffee a day, according to the MayoClinic.com. Regular coffee drinkers are at risk for dehydration because caffeine works like a diuretic and increases your urine production. According to the University of Iowa, symptoms of dehydration may include vomiting, fever, diarrhea, weakness, lightheadedness, cramps in your legs and arms, breathing difficulties, headaches, dark urine, dry mouth and thick saliva. In severe cases, dehydration may result in shock or death.
Insomnia
Drinking caffeinated coffee too close to bedtime can disrupt your sleep patterns. According to the MayoClinic.com, the stimulant effects of caffeine can prevent you from falling asleep at night, reduce the amount of time you actually sleep, increase the number of times you wake up during the night and interfere with you ability to drift into a deep slumber. MayoClinic.com states that limiting your intake of caffeinated beverages at least eight hours before bedtime can help you break the cycle of insomnia.
References
- University of Iowa: Dehydration
- Harvard Health Publications: Coffee Health Benefits: Coffee May Protect Against Disease
- MayoClinic.com: How Does Caffeine Affect Blood Pressure?
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine: Is it Dehydrating or Not?
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?
- Harvard Health Publications: Coffee Health Risks: For the Moderate Drinker, Coffee is Safe says Harvard Women's Health Watch
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