Waking up every morning to a cup of coffee is common, but caffeinated drinks including coffee, tea and soda at noon can affect your sleep at night. While light consumption of caffeine is unlikely to keep you awake at night, coffee can have some harsh effects, including physical and mental fatigue. To avoid the effects of coffee, incorporate more decaffeinated drinks into your diet.
Caffeine is a Drug
Caffeine is a stimulant that many people use to improve concentration and wakefulness. Moderate doses of caffeine, about two to four cups of caffeinated drink, usually are not harmful, according to MayoClinic.com. Consuming more than four cups of caffeinated drink daily can definitely affect sleep patterns, causing insomnia and restlessness.
Caffeine Effects
The energy boost you receive from your cup of coffee is not a placebo effect, and your body will be on alert mode afterward. As the caffeine wears off, you will eventually experience chronic adrenal exhaustion, according to "Natural News." Reaching for more caffeine is not the answer because you will eventually experience fatigue. Slowly reducing your caffeine intake daily is the way to reduce its effects and any withdrawal problems, according to Mayo Clinic.
Caffeine Factors
If you consume caffeine heavily during the afternoon or just before bedtime, it can disrupt sleep patterns by delaying sleep, reducing total sleep time, altering sleep stages or decreasing your quality of sleep, reports Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. According to studies conducted by the medical center, caffeine, no matter how early in the day, may disrupt sleep in some form.
Alternatives
While many people drink coffee to stay more alert, try some alternatives to caffeine consumption. Plan your day to go to bed in time to get enough rest at night. Taking a 30-minute nap during the day can also help to make you more alert, according to Medicine Plus.
