Social And Physical
UNIVESRITY
Introduction
Almost 90% of adults in the United States consume caffeine on a daily basis (Tasman, Kay, Lieberman, First, & Maj, 2011). Caffeine is the most popular mood-altering drug in the world (Tasman et al., 2011). Those who regularly consume caffeine typically drink coffee, tea, sodas or energy drinks as part of their routine. Many Americans depend on regular doses of trimethylxanthine(Nikić, Andrić, Stojimirović, Trbojevic-Stanković, & Bukumirić, 2014), the chemical name for a bitter white powder known as caffeine, to remain alert and fight off exhaustion to be productive throughout the day. Whether it's brewed from a K-Cup, sipped on sweet tea, savored in chocolate or downed in cola, caffeine is a mild stimulant to the central nervous system that has become a regular fixture in everyday life.
Origin of Caffeine
Caffeine is a form of an alkaloid that exists in the natural world with over 60 plants containing this drug(Nikić et al., 2014),. Such plants include cocoa and tea leaves, kola nuts and coffee beans(Nikić et al., 2014),. As such it appears spontaneously in coffee, tea, and chocolate. Caffeine is also consumed in many soft drinks and over the counter medications for colds(Nikić et al., 2014),. Though all these products have caffeine the amount in each varies. Coffee has caffeine and is also found in chocolate Soft drinks also have a great deal of caffeine found Energy drinks and energy shots such as Five Hour Energy, Monster, and the counter stimulants and analgesics (Nikić et al., 2014),.The amount of caffeine consumed in beverages varies immensely.
Social aspects of Caffeine
Cultures around the world have adopted coffee and tea as both an economic and cultural part of their society. Over the years, coffee and tea have transformed from just a drunk to means of social interaction. Coffee has served as spaces for people to organize and discuss political or artistic matters, and thus a critical component of American Society(Weinberg & Bealer, 2001). Socializing is associated with this product because it makes one more social, and this was first found in seventeenth-century Oxford gatherings known as the Oxford Coffee Club, whom solely came together for the mood effects (Weinberg & Bealer, 2001). (p. 153). French revolutionary salons, which operated all hours of the night as a result of the aid of caffeine, they would spend all night discussing ideas that culturally shift society(Weinberg & Bealer, 2001).
During the 1950’s, coffee became an accepted part of American life, sanctioned by the police as an aid to safety, endorsing posters such as “For Safety’s Sake- STOP for a Coffee break” with the Police Department chiefs name sanctioning the propaganda(Sivulka, 2011).This is probably where our long-standing joke about the police being at the coffee shop when you need them has come from(Sivulka, 2011). Coffee also led to issues in the bedroom, when in 1674, coffee houses had become such a craze that women, who were excluded from patronizing there, protested that coffee had made their men impotent. Of course, in retaliation, the men who were enjoying their intellectual time (2010) retaliated stating in defense of their coffee, that in fact, drinking coffee only made their erections more “vigorous”(Pendergrast, 2010). Though there may not be the same social use today, many young individuals misuse caffeine to enhance academic achievement.
Caffeine And College Students
For college students facing hours of studying coffee or caffeinated consumption is a staple of the study life. Recent research has indicated that Academy students sometimes use caffeine pillage for neuroenhancement (NE; non-medical use of psychoactive substances or technology to produce a subjective aggravation in psychological functioning and experience), especially during exams(Tran et al., 2014).. Such caffeine-enhanced products are not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration as it case poses health threats(Nikić et al., 2014).
Red Bulls are commonly used by college students to stay up all night and do school work(Nikić et al., 2014).Everyone has a different amount type and metabolizes drugs at a different rate.; drinking one cup of coffee will have a different effect than drinking a 20 oz RedBull(Nikić et al., 2014). However, many do not realize that this misuse of caffeine will probably work against them. Studies have shown that by lengthening heart rate and blood pressure, caffeine exaggerates the adrenaline response in the body placing too much strain on the body making them more exhausted and dependent(Tran et al., 2014). Students who have a cupful every morning to get rid of any heavy feelings might not realize that it is the caffeine causing this feeling in the first place. Approximately 12 to 16 hours after consuming coffee the student will start to go into withdrawal(Tran et al., 2014)..
Caffeine and Physical Effect
Food Safety Authority established that 75mg of caffeine(Ruxton, 2014), about the amount found in a regular cup of coffee, increases selective attention and heightens the mood. The caffeine in acts as a mild stimulant to the central nervous system. Studies have shown that depending on open of intake, caffeine can help to improve mental production, especially in alertness, attention, and concentration(Ruxton, 2014). Caffeine, an adenosine A1, and A2A receptor antagonist is the most lay psychostimulant pharmaceutical, which correlates with, increased anxiety(Chen, Choi, & Jenkins, 2005). In a study examining oxygenations level-corollary official magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), there was a correlation between heightened their blood pressure. (Chen et al., 2005) Effects of caffeine on the extent of threat-told amygdala energizing correlative negatively with the routine of dietary caffeine intake(Chen et al., 2005).
Caffeine can also be harmful to the development bodies of children it can cause the excessive elimination of calcium and magnesium, viable elements for the formation of a normal bone body. . The phosphoric acid commonly found in Coca-Cola is particularly detrimental to one's health it can cause increase risk of bone fractures and palate enamel breakdown. Also, drinking of caffeinated, carbonated drinks may exacerbate ear infections and respiratory irritations that produce colds, bronchitis, and asthma. Caffeine and carbonated beverages can trigger "refluxing", in which children's risk of suffering from acid reflux is significantly heightened. No child or teen should have more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is equal to two cans of soda. One way to prevent this from impacting children is to support the illegality of vending machines that offer soda.
Mortality has been documented from overdosing on powdered caffeine and caffeine pills, such as weight-loss aids. In 2014, two young men, an 18-year-old in Ohio and a 24-year-old in Georgia, overdosed on powdered pure caffeine, according to the FDA(Landa, 2014). Their deaths illustrate the dangers and potency of this concentrated product. One teaspoon of powdered pure caffeine contains about the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of regular coffee, according to the FDA. The FDA warns that young people, in particular, might use powdered caffeine — which is sold legally online — to boost their energy level, study longer, improve their athletic performance or lose weight. However, this is 100 percent caffeine, thus making it a very powerful stimulant that, in even small amounts, may trigger an accidental and potentially fatal overdose(Landa, 2014).. Further complicating matters are that the safe quantities caffeine in powder form is tough to measure, thus posing a risk of toxicity. FDA warns of caffeine toxicity; symptoms include "a racing heart, sweating, seizures, vomiting, muscle tremors and, eventually respiratory, collapse." (Landa, 2014).
DSM Diagnosis
Although consumption of caffeine in moderate is not harmful, those who drink excessive amounts will have negative health consequences, which include cardiovascular problems and perinatal complications. The DSM lists caffeine withdrawal is listed as a mental health condition. For example, withdrawal side effects, which may start 12 to 24 hours after stopping or drastically curbing caffeine, include migraines, exhaustion, depressed mood and inability to concentrate(Tasman et al., 2011). When these symptoms are severe enough to interfere with a person's ability to function a diagnosis of caffeine use disorder diagnosis was given. However, DSM-5 will not include caffeine use disorder; despite support the ability of caffeine to evoke a withdrawal effect.(Tasman et al., 2011). The DSM diagnostic criteria include urges to consume caffeine, feelings of helplessness associated with cutting down or eliminating consumption and the need to consume more caffeine to achieve desired mood effect (Tasman et al., 2011).Prolonged caffeine use can cause interpersonal, social relationship issues, as it results in higher levels of irritation and impulsiveness. Almost 1/3 of caffeine consumers (30%) also qualified for the diagnosis of Substance Dependence (Meredith et al.) Furthermore, this study found that a history of substance was a strong predictor for addiction to caffeine. Several of those with this diagnosis also have a comorbid psychiatric disorder at an elevate rate (17%) (Meredith et al.).
Addiction:
Teenagers develop alcohol and drug addiction at an average of 14 years old (Burstein et al., 2012). Early age substance abuse increases vulnerability to addition in adulthood. Those young individuals diagnoses with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk as they are most likely to engage in drug use (ie: caffeine, nicotine, and majaruana) (Lee, Humphreys, Flory, Liu & Glass, 2011). Researchers contribute dug dependence to both genetic inheritance and social factors, but cite that exposure to stress often result in the ability to cope with emotional throughout the lifespan. The high risk of having a mental condition is further compounded by the critical age of adolescence (Enoch, 2014). Therefore this population should be a target for substance use prevention measure should be taken place, such as counseling or awareness campaigns about harms of misusing substances.
Conclusion
Drinking more than 200 mg a day is considered harmful (Tasman, Kay, Lieberman, First, & Maj, 2011) is known that some people may experience withdrawal symptoms after the abrupt interruption of caffeine; this occurs 12-24 hours after cessation of caffeine and translates into headaches, drowsiness, and feeling of fatigue but won’t last more than 48 hours and this can avoid by the progressive reduction of intake. Considering the high levels of use, and adverse health outcomes(Meredith, Juliano, Hughes, & Griffiths, 2013), there should be a public health campaign to spread awareness of the dangers of this commonly misused drug.
References:
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Landa, M. (2014). Tragic Deaths Highlight the Dangers of Powdered Pure Caffeine [Press release]. Retrieved from http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2014/12/tragic-deaths-highlight-the-dangers-of-powdered-pure-caffeine/
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