Dangers of caffeine: Starting the day without a cup of tea or coffee has come unimaginable. Working on a deadline? Under great stress? A boost of caffeine helps you to get your work beast unleashed. Sometimes in life, we need a little help and caffeine is probably the best and most easily available support. The smell of the coffee across the room is enough to make your head dizzy, wanting a cup for yourself. One or two cups are often termed harmless and also helpful preventive healthcare beverage but it has real adverse effects.
Caffeinated drinks have both positive and negative effects. According to a legend, coffee was discovered in 805 AD in Ethiopia. From being discovered by a goatherd to the most loved beverage, coffee has been made into a very large industry. Caffeine is a methylxanthine class stimulant for the central nervous system. It is the world’s most consumed psychotic drug. It is highly consumed on a daily basis through products like coffee and green tea around the world; giving it a significant advantage over other drugs.
Dangers of caffeine
It is the easiest to find and you ingest it through many things. Low levels of caffeine are what a body needs but consuming 2 to 3 cups daily of beverages with high caffeine content exposes us to the dangers of the same.
Some of the dangers of caffeine are:
Anxiety
It is known to have a “waking” property; it makes a person alert and makes him feel less tired. It also helps in the secretion of adrenaline which is helpful in preventive healthcare in the fight or flight situation. But an excess of it can lead to a feeling of anxiety and nervousness.
Increased risk of heart attacks
It is a known stimulant for the central nervous system. Because of its methylxanthine class, the effects of caffeine on the cardiovascular system can be noticed in a short period of time. Excess consumption can lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular problems among people with weak hearts.
Indigestion
Coffee is known to produce acid reflux in the stomach causing indigestion and heartburn. It is also known as the cause of stomach ulcers. It is not stored in the body in any form but is excreted in form of urine after being processed by the liver.
Fatigue
This might seem contrary to what caffeinated products like coffee are meant to do. But based on recent research studies, it has been found that when the subjects were given a required dose, they had a boost in energy, were more alert and they worked more efficiently, but there was a major drawback after the caffeine was used up or excreted. The participants felt more tired and fatigued than previously.
High blood pressure
There are no binding major cases of caffeine as the cause of heart stroke among patients. But it has clearly been known to increase blood pressure due to its stimulatory effect on the central nervous system. This does not damage the body immediately but long overdoses of the same might lead to damage to the arteries; making it difficult for the blood to flow to and fro from the heart and around the body.
Weak bones
It increases the amount of calcium that is excreted from the body as a waste product. People with osteoporosis or deficiency of vitamin D must cautiously consume caffeine because it is known to flush out calcium which may lead to weak and brittle bone. You must limit the intake of coffee to a maximum of two cups a day. You should also take an extra calcium supplement to balance the amount that has been flushed out.
Caffeine-induced coma
Consuming too much caffeine at one time may induce a state in which your mind will feel confused, followed by seizures. This is popularly known as a caffeine-induced coma. It is not a coma in the medical sense, but a period of the brain being extremely stimulated, leading to an imbalance in the hormones.
Insomnia
Drinking coffee late at night to stay awake to complete your assignment is what every one of us has done at one point the time or another. It is known because of this extreme quality. But one major drawback is, that if it is consumed too much, it can lead to problems in the sleeping patterns and even sleeplessness.
High intake can lead to earlier death
Sensitivity to caffeine is not something many people are concerned with. Although such sensitivity can be fatal due to excess of the same. Such excess cannot be achieved by consuming drinks on a regular basis, but taking a lot of caffeine supplement pills can cause an overdose. Hence, it is advised to keep your consumption under control for preventive healthcare
Addiction
Caffeine addiction is quite common among people of different age groups. Having a maximum of three cups of coffee a day is pretty normal but people who exceed the limit and don’t stay in their minds without the intake of caffeine are said to be addicted to it. As said earlier, it is one of the best psychotic drugs.
Caffeine is a boon and a curse at the same time. While it helps us to stay awake and alert; it can also result in problems like heart stroke, insomnia, and other problems. In case you are facing any such problems, consult experts regarding preventive healthcare