Annual coffee sales have pushed past 10 billion dollars, according to an article in the April 2011 edition of "Food Science and Nutrition." The alerting effects of coffee -- caused by caffeine -- contribute to its popularity. Caffeine can help you manage the symptoms of sleep deprivation. It may, however, also cause unwanted side effects. Talk to your doctor before consuming large amounts of caffeine.
Caffeine Reduces Sleepiness
Sleep deprivation often plays a role in workplace accidents. Unusual work schedules and sleep disorders remain the most common cause of sleepiness, according to a 2011 review in "Progress in Brain Research." Caffeine cannot change the causes of sleepiness, but it might help prevent the consequences. A study described in the October 2008 issue of "Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry" looked at the impact of caffeine on college students. Participants received a caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage during a single testing session. The caffeinated drink enhanced activation and reduced sleepiness relative to the decaffeinated drink. The subjects did not experience caffeine-related reactions.
Caffeine Enhances Athletic Performance
Our society places great emphasis on winning -- often by any means necessary. Performance-enhancing drugs have become increasingly popular with both professional and recreational athletes, according to an October 2010 report in "The Physician and Sportsmedicine." Governing bodies have banned many of these substances, but caffeine remains readily available. Elite athletes often experience sleep deprivation as they travel around the world. An experiment published in the February 2011 edition of the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" evaluated caffeine as a possible countermeasure. Rugby players received either caffeine or placebo during a sleep-restriction protocol. Caffeine, relative to placebo, helped them perform better after sleeping for only four hours. Players given the stimulant more effectively passed the ball. The authors did not observe any signs of caffeine toxicity.
Caffeine Enhances Mental Performance
Doctors often experience sleep deprivation when they work extended shifts. This lack of sleep has an adverse effect on their mental abilities, according to a January 2011 report in "Collegium Antropologicum." Studies in animals suggest that caffeine can prevent the cognitive decline associated with a lack of sleep. An investigation offered in the July 2011 issue of the "British Journal of Surgery" determined whether caffeine has a similar effect on medical students. Participants received either the stimulant or an inert substance during an extended period of sleep deprivation. Relative to placebo, caffeine reduced reaction time during a simulated surgery. It did not, however, reduce the number of errors. Caffeine use did not cause side effects.
Caffeine Causes Side Effects
Young adults often ingest caffeine to prevent the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. This benefit may come at a price. An August 2011 report in the "Journal of Adolescence" showed that caffeine use caused more academic problems than substance abuse. Long-term caffeine intake can also create a vicious circle. Sleep-deprived people use caffeine to counteract sleepiness, but daytime use can have a adverse effect on nighttime sleep. An article published in the July 2009 edition of the "Journal of Psychopharmacology" showed that caffeine increased the time it takes to fall asleep. It also decreased polygraphic measures of sleep quality. These changes increase sleepiness and thereby create the need for more caffeine use.
References
- "Food Science and Nutrition"; Coffee and its Consumption: Benefits and Risks; M.S. Butt, et al.; April 2011
- "Progress in Brain Research"; Sleep Loss and Accidents -- Work Hours, Lifestyle, and Sleep Pathology; Torbjorn Akerstedt, et al.; 2011
- "Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry"; Early Effects of Caffeinated and Decaffeinated Coffee on Subjective State and Gender Differences; Ana Adan, et al.; October 2008
- "The Physician and Sportsmedicine"; Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescents: Identification of Those at Risk and Strategies for Prevention; M. K. Mulcahey, et al.; October 2010
- "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition"; Skill Execution and Sleep Deprivation; Christian J. Cook, et al.; February 2011
- "Collegium Antropologicum"; Blood Pressure Dipping and Salivary Cortisol as Markers of Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation in Staff Anesthesiologists; M. Carev, et al.; January 2011
