Between 80 and 90 percent of North Americans consume caffeine daily, including both adults and children, according to CNN Medical Correspondent Judy Fortin. The drug is in popular foods and beverages like chocolate, certain soft drinks, tea and coffee. Most people consume it because they enjoy the beverages or want to feel more alert, but it has other effects. For example, it can both help and exacerbate headaches.
Definition
Caffeine is drug that stimulates the central nervous system. The substance naturally appears in coffee beans, cocoa and tea and producers can legally add it foods, beverages and medications. Foods and beverages like chocolate candy and hot or iced tea contain it naturally, while manufacturers add it to things like energy shots and soft drinks. Caffeine is also frequently in painkillers, cold medicines and diet pills, according to CNN Health.
Effects
Caffeine helps headaches when used with other pain relievers. Many headache remedy manufacturers blend painkillers like acetaminophen and aspirin with caffeine. This is because it helps your body absorb the medication and makes the drugs more effective, according to the National Headache Foundation. You can often take less of an analgesic that has caffeine added because it takes a smaller amount to relieve your headache. You feel relief about half an hour sooner from a caffeine-enhanced painkiller.
Amount
You need to consume the proper amount of caffeine to help your headache. A 2001 study by researchers at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago found that it takes about 200 mg of caffeine, either alone or combined with pain medication, to relieve a headache. That amount is equivalent to a large mug of coffee. The relief lasts longer when you take a caffeine/medication combination rather than using caffeine on its own. Otherwise, the pain relief effect wears off in about 90 minutes.
Withdrawal
You might go through caffeine withdrawal if you regularly drink large amounts of coffee, tea, energy drinks, colas or other types of soft drinks that contain the drug. Your body becomes accustomed to the caffeine and undergoes physical effects when your intake stops. Withdrawal symptoms include grogginess, sleepiness and problems focusing. Changes in your blood vessels trigger withdrawal headaches, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Your head pain will stop if you drink a caffeinated beverage. You must wean yourself from caffeine slowly to avoid headaches and other unpleasant withdrawal effects. Stopping cold turkey virtually guarantees feeling the symptoms.
References
- CNN Health; CNN Food Central; November 1998
- National Headache Foundation: Debunking Myths, Fast Facts
- Cleveland Clinic; Diseases and Conditions; September 2006
- CNN Health; Beware the perils of Caffeine Withdrawal; Judy Fortin; April 2009
- New Scientist; Caffeine Key to Curing a Headache; Emma Young; October 2001
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