Ongoing research study on the effects that caffeine has on the body has delivered various conclusions.
There have been years of study and research invested into the direct effects that caffeine has on the body and mind. Caffeine is present in many familiar foods and drinks and available for consumption in various forms. While some people tend to avoid caffeine, many become dependent on it for one reason or another.
Many studies reveal that the effects are aligned with the amount of the caffeine intake. It mildly stimulates the central nervous system. Some research indicates that the stimulant improves levels of alertness and ability to focus. How does caffeine effect your day to day performance and brain function? This is a common question that usually leads to a complex set of answers.
Caffeine and Sleep
The caffeine stimulant may directly or indirectly trigger patterns of sleep. Research results show that there is a connection that exists among daily caffeine consumption, sleep quality and sleepiness during daytime hours. The depth of the effect relies heavily upon each individual and their adaptiveness to the consumption of caffeine at certain times of the day. Consumption that takes place during the late hours of the day may lead to improvements of a disruptive sleep pattern.
A few points to consider:
- Caffeine tends to have fewer effects on people who consume caffeinated drinks regularly. While those who ingest the stimulant more often will likely experience more noticeable effects. Age could possibly be a factor of consideration in the variation of these effects and how they occur.
- Sleep quality could note an improvement if the stimulant is not ingested for a period of one day.
- Curbing the intake of caffeine in the later hours of the day could contribute to an improvement of sleep quality at night.
Anxiety Trigger
Caffeine is sometimes referred to as the stimulant that causes a jittery feeling in some people. It can cause the onset or elevation of an anxiety attack, because it ignites the fight or flight instinct that humans naturally possess. The intake of excessive amounts of caffeine or more than the body generally consumes can make you feel on edge, nervous or keep you awake for much of the night. People who suffer from anxiety may not want to take in any amount of caffeine, while some find small amounts don’t trigger their feelings of anxiousness.
People who are naturally sensitive to caffeine can possibly feel symptoms related to anxiety. Increased heart rate, sleeplessness, irritability and even anxiety attacks may occur. There are some occasions where people who suffer from anxiety will quit consuming caffeine before starting an anti-depressant. Mixing caffeine, the psychoactive drug with certain medications can increase levels of anxiety. The stimulant could possibly trigger issues of anxiety in some and eliminating it from your lifestyle could improve irritability and other associated issues.
Caffeine and ADHD
Caffeine is present in some of the most popular drinks and foods of today. A bite of chocolate, sip of tea or coffee and you’ve got your fix for the day. Caffeine in the perfect proportion may enhance the ability to concentrate, but consume too much and the results could be jitters, feelings of anxiousness and irritable behavior. All these factors combined with ADHD, which has a complex position without the intake of caffeine could make things more complicated.
The intake of caffeine elevates the generation of dopamine, a neurochemical that aides in focus and concentration abilities. Once caffeine enters the system, it can make a person with ADHD feel more energetic and less fatigued. In other instances, it can have a negative impact on sleep patterns, producing possible insomnia or the inability to sleep through the night.