Caffeine is the most popular mood-altering drug in the world, according to John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Coffee is the main form for most people in the United states to obtain caffeine, with soda coming in a close second. This drug has addictive properties with increasing tolerances and can even lead to withdrawal symptoms for those who stop using it completely. Caffeine absorbs quickly into the body, leading to rapid side effects.
Stimulant
Caffeine is classified as a stimulant drug, which means it stimulates the rate of general activity within a body. The Medical Dictionary online states that stimulants increase nervous excitability and excitement while strengthening the heart, in effect making it beat harder and faster. Caffeine works directly on the central nervous system and heart, being fully absorbed by the body within 30 to 45 minutes of consumption through the stomach lining. The effects of an average dose of caffeine, 100 to 200 mg, last for three to four and a half hours.
Rapid Heart Rate
The Mayo Clinic online states that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others, and even moderate amounts of caffeine can cause some people to experience an increased heart rate and blood pressure. Doses as small as 30 mg can lead to mood alterations. Those who have higher doses of caffeine or are sensitive can experience palpitations, which feel like like the heart is racing or skipping beats. This heartbeat can be felt anywhere in the chest, throat or neck, according to the National Institutes of Health online. For those experiencing rapid heartbeat or palpitations, one of the first recommendations is to cut back on caffeine intake and look at reducing stress and anxiety.
Average Dose
The body does not store caffeine, nor dose it build up in the bloodstream, according to the National Institutes of Health online. Any caffeine not absorbed into the body is excreted into the urine. Generally, 200 to 300 mg of caffeine is considered a moderate dose. This is equal to two to four cups of coffee or 84 oz. of soda. It is important to remember that caffeine is naturally found in approximately 60 plants, and added to sodas, energy drinks, certain pain relieving medications and weight loss products. To decrease potential side effects, it is important to pay attention to all sources of caffeine, large and small.
Unsafe Dose
While there are no recommendations for daily allowances as caffeine is not needed for the body to function, it is hard to overdose on caffeine. The lethal dose of caffeine is based on body weight and is approximately 170mg/kg for a healthy adult male, according to Carnegie Mellon University online. This dose translates to approximately 80 to 100 cups of coffee in a short period, which ranges based on how the caffeine is consumed, body weight and individual tolerance. Case reports have reported death within as little as 40 minutes after 10,000 g of caffeine was consumed at once. Otherwise, the Mayo Clinic online states that 500 to 600 mg a day of caffeine, or 4 to 7 cups of coffee, can lead to unpleasant side effects such as insomnia, restlessness, nervousness, rapid heart rate, headaches and anxiety.
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