High with Caffeine Symptoms

Caffeine for some people is like a fuel that sets the on-the-go mood for the rest of the day. Unnoticeably, it has been taking over the lives of many people in all settings as it is being consumed almost everyday by everyone for its wide range of functions.

In the world of pharmacology, caffeine is described as "the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world." In the corporate world, coffee break has been a culture. Students also partner with caffeine during their zombie nights of studying. Even after work, long chats or casual meetings are also usually done over coffee. It's everywhere that almost all fast food beverages contain caffeine. Chocolates and chocolate containing products, one of the most classic sweet cravings also has it.

This ever so popular substance can be found in leaves, seeds or fruits of more than 60 plants, coffee and cocoa beans, kola nuts and tea leaves, to name a few. It hides in most beverages (coffee, tea, cola), perking up people anytime of the day as it is technically classified as a central nervous system stimulant. It is ever so reliable that its effects can be felt as quickly as 15 minutes after ingestion. Half of the ingested amount is eliminated after 6 hours.

It has both positive and negative effects, depending on the amount consumed throughout the day. Moderate consumption would lead to desirable such as increased well-being, happiness, energetic arousal, alertness, and sociability. Large doses (200 mg or greater) on the other hand can produce effects like anxiety, nervousness, and jitteriness.

These extremes in effects just signify the importance of drawing the line between what is just right and what is too much as there is such a thing as psychiatric conditions associated with caffeine: caffeine intoxication, caffeine withdrawal, caffeine dependence, caffeine-induced sleep disorder, and caffeine-induced anxiety disorder.

The group of symptoms that arise in response to increased consumption of caffeine is what is being referred to as caffeine intoxication. Experts say this may happen if more than 500mg is consumed. Aside from anxiety and nervousness, a person can also feel extreme excitement, insomnia, rambling flow of thought and speech, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, tachycardia, diuresis, muscle twitching, periods of inexhaustibility, and psychomotor agitation. Moreover, there are even reports that some experience fever, irritability, tremors, sensory disturbances, tachypnea, and headaches. Symptoms however vary depending on individual sensitivity and tolerance. For instance, a person with low sensitivity and high tolerance may need higher doses before intoxication symptoms can be experienced.

Other important caffeine induced disorders are sleep disorder and anxiety disorder. Studies have shown that increased anxiety ratings and panic attack episodes usually happen at 200 mg consumption or more in the general population. Even more sensitive to caffeine are individuals who already have panic and anxiety disorders.

The connection between caffeine and sleep has long been established. Studies have shown that it can delay the onset of sleep, reduce total sleep time, alter normal stages of sleep, and decrease overall quality of sleep. These effects are not only exerted by caffeine taken in before bedtime. Caffeine consumed anytime during the day or even during the morning can still have significant effect on nighttime sleep.

Caffeine tolerance can also result when too much caffeine has been ingested over a considerable period of time. In the context of substance use, tolerance generally refers to the decrease in responsiveness of a person to a drug after repeated drug exposure. Complete tolerance can be developed with daily high doses of caffeine (750 to 1200 mg/day spread throughout the day.). At relatively lower dietary doses, incomplete tolerance may result, where there is only disruption in sleep.

So when drinking anything with caffeine, just remember not to abuse it because it has the potential to abuse your body as well.

Gerrard Mackenzie has taught thousands of the stressed-out, tired and overworked how to overcome their sleeping difficulties at www.superchargeyoursleep.com/. Article reprinted from www.goarticles.com.

Article Source: http://www.sleepdisorderarticles.com

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