Excessive Use Of Caffeine example essay topic

Caffeine / Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. It is an effective stimulant of the central nervous system and in large amounts can produce undesirable side effects such as: nervousness, insomnia, rapid and irregular heartbeats, elevated blood sugar and cholesterol levels, excess stomach acid, and heartburn. Based on our incomplete knowledge of side reactions to caffeine, prudent use seems desirable for all consumers, male and female. The problem is particularly significant for children because the effects of caffeine are related to the body weight of the consumer.

Coffee, tea, chocolate and many soft drinks contain caffeine, and it is used to flavor certain foods. It is also found in medications for staying awake, dieting, treating colds, allergies, migraines and muscle tension. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. Its effects range from mild alertness to heightened anxiety and body tension.

Caffeine may not improve performance of complex tasks; it may even interfere with work. It shortens reaction time among some users, but its impact on creativity and other intellectual activities is hard to define. Caffeine can be habit-forming. Some regular users who give it up may experience withdrawal symptoms twelve to sixteen hours after the last dose, such as: drowsiness, headaches, lethargy, irritability, disinterest in work, depression, occasional nausea and vomiting. How caffeine affects you depends on what and how much you drink.

Strongly brewed coffee or tea has much more caffeine than a weakly brewed drink. Age and size make a difference too: A caffeinated soft drink consumed by a child can have the same effect as four cups of coffee for an adult. In moder at doses (more than 200 mg, depending on body weight and physical condition) it can produce trembling, nervousness, chronic muscle tension, irritability, throbbing headaches, disorientation, sluggishness, depression and insomnia - otherwise known as "Coffee nerves" As with other drugs, how much and how often caffeine is used can affect reactions. While it may keep you awake for some tasks, caffeine (and other stimulants such as amphetamines or "speed") will not make up for declining performance caused by lack of rest and exhaustion. You may stay awake for an "all- nighter", but your memory may be less efficient. In addition, coffee nerves can cause behaviors that may annoy others and add tension to interpersonal interactions.

There are also a number of health risks that can be linked to extensive use of caffeinated products due to the affect of caffeine on the nerves and impulses to the brain. Caffeine may affect coordination, sleep patterns and behavior. Delayed sleep, frequent night time awakenings, poor sleep quality or tension- nervousness cycles may result from excessive caffeine intake. People with high blood pressure (hypertension) should consult their physician before using caffeine.

Limited research links heavy coffee drinking with heart attacks. Caffeine can produce heart rhythm problems, a temporary rise of blood pressure and those subject to irregular heartbeats should avoid caffeine. Coffee and Smoking, although frequent, are a very unhealthy combination. Because nicotine raises blood pressure, cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular complications for anyone with high blood pressure. A typical smoker experiences at least eight hours a day of nicotine-elevated blood pressure.

Caffeine can worsen this situation. In addition to blood pressure problems, it can also increase stomach acid production. Caffeine has been a part of the typical daily diet for thousands of years, and will continue to be probably until the end of time. However it is clear that excessive use of caffeine, as well as any other drug can have extremely strong setbacks in a persons and health and well being, but with moderate use it can relieve migraines, tension and and other common illnesses. 317.