Caffeine occurs naturally in more than 60 plants including tea leaves, coffee beans, cacao pods and kola nuts-used to flavor soft drink colas (Medicines in my Home, 1). Worldwide, 90 percent of people consume caffeine in different forms. The use of caffeine has several effects to the human body.
Caffeine changes the working of the brain and the body by stimulating the central nervous system-brain, spinal cord and the nerves. Caffeine makes one feel more awake and alert. This is a major reason why people take it (Snel, 3). Moreover, caffeine is used as a prescription and over-the-counter drug to improve the effect of some pain-killers as well as in treatment of drowsiness and tiredness (Medicines in my Home, 2).
Use of caffeine can cause problems to the body. In fact, caffeine overdose can be fatal. The FDA reported that a 19-year old college student died after taking an overdose of caffeine tablets in order to stay awake. The effects to the body depend on one’s size, sex and their sensitivity to the effects of caffeine. Commonest effects include sleep disorders such as difficulties staying asleep, headaches, nervousness, increases stomach acidity, dehydration and increased feelings of shakiness or being jittery (Bolton, 203). In particular people with heart problems should not use caffeine. The substance causes uneven heart rhythm; increased heart beat and increased blood pressure. In addition, use of caffeine exacerbates anxiety problems and panic attacks (Bolton, 203). Against this backdrop, doctors recommend moderate use of caffeine of 100-200 mg or 1-5 ounce cups of coffee each day.
Caffeine use in chocolate, coffee, tea, cola drinks or as a prescription drug is common. The benefits of its use range from increased alertness to increased effectiveness of some painkillers. However, caffeine can cause several medical problems to the body such as heart-related problems, headaches, dehydration, sleep disorders among others. Doctors recommend moderate intake of less than 200mg to keep these problems at bay. Moreover, there is plentiful of information on caffeine that people can access and learn how much caffeine (from different substances) they can consume safely.
Works cited
Medicines in my home. “Caffeine and Your Body.” Fall 2007
Snel, Lorist. "Effects of caffeine on sleep and cognition". Prog. Brain Res.. Progress in Brain
Research. 2011.
Bolton, Sanford "Caffeine: Psychological Effects, Use and Abuse". Orthomolecular Psychiatry.
1981.
