Drinking caffeinated beverages can help you stay more alert, but caffeine is not without its drawbacks. Consuming too much caffeine can leave you feeling jittery and nauseous. More serious health concerns can occur if you regularly drink large amounts of the stimulant. Reducing the daily amount of caffeine you consume can help you avoid unpleasant side effects.
Identification
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, colas and some other soft drinks. Some medications, including pain relievers and cold medications, also contain caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, making you feel more energetic and alert, although over time, you may need more caffeine to achieve those results. Your size and body weight affects your sensitivity to caffeine, with smaller people experiencing side effects sooner than larger people. Your age, use of medications and health conditions can also affect sensitivity. MedlinePlus reports that three 8 oz. cups of coffee daily and five servings of caffeinated soft drinks or tea is an average or moderate amount of caffeine, while ten 8 oz. cups of coffee is considered an excessive intake of caffeine.
Common Side Effects
Because caffeine is a stimulant, you may find that is harder to sleep at night when you consume caffeine. Excessive use of caffeine can cause anxiety or make anxiety worse if you are already prone to experiencing the problem. You may also notice that your hands and muscles shake, you develop a headache, your heart beats faster or you feel restless after drinking large amounts of caffeinated beverages. You may feel so nauseous that you vomit and you may notice that you urinate more often. Caffeine might increase pain associated with fibrocystic breast disease in some women.
More Serious Side Effects
Drinking excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, a disease that weakens the bones. When you drink caffeine, the bones absorb less calcium and aren’t quite as dense as they should be. Caffeine can interact with some prescription medications. Consuming caffeine and taking the antibacterial medications norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin can interfere with caffeine breakdown, while using caffeine while taking theophylline to open airways in the lungs can increase such side effects as heart palpitations, vomiting and nausea, according to MayoClinic.com. You may also notice increased sensitivity if you take echinacea, an herbal supplement used to treat colds.
Pregnancy and Caffeine
Drinking large amounts of caffeine while pregnant is not recommended. MedlinePlus reports that your caffeine usage can have a negative effect on the baby, noting that increases in your heart rate. Increased metabolism due to excess caffeine consumption can also affect your baby. Cutting down your consumption or avoiding caffeinated beverage completely can help you avoid any problems due to the effects of caffeine.
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