preview

How Does Caffeine Affect The Brain

Better Essays

How Caffeine Can Effect the Brain Many people start their day with a cup of coffee. According to John Hopkins, “Around 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine every single day in one form or another”. It seems if we need a wakeup call to our morning, many of us grab caffeine to give us that extra boost of energy. How much caffeine is ok for the average person each day? The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee from Healthgov.com recommend 3-5 eight ounce cups of coffee per day or up to 400 milligrams per day of caffeine for the average healthy consumer. Caffeine is a CNS stimulant drug known as trimethylamine. Caffeine is naturally found in chocolate, coffee, cocoa beans, kola nuts, and tea. It is also added to drinks such as soda and …show more content…

Caffeine can stay in your blood for 4-6 hours, although it’s strongest after one hour of consuming. It increases acid in your stomach which can cause heartburn. Caffeine is also a diuretic, therefore making your body lose more water. When consuming caffeine, moderation is key. Since it can be found in more than fifty products, one must be careful. The FDA warns us that “Caffeine overdose is dangerous and can kill you (FDA, 2007).” Drugs are classified by their effect on the central nervous system. According to health.gov, caffeine is a stimulant that tends to speed up the activity of a person’s CNS which includes the brain. Some examples of other CNS stimulants are Amphetamines, cocaine, pseudoephedrine (which is found in medications such as Sudafed, Codral Cold and Flu), Nicotine, and Caffeine. (health.gov.au, 2004)” There are many other drugs that stimulate the CNS. Some of these are methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine) which are used from ADHD. There are also CNS stimulants that help with severe obesity. These drugs can be seen as socially acceptable to those that have been diagnosed by a physician and prescribed them. There are also other CNS drugs such as amphetamines which are classified as schedule II under federal drug regulations (Medical-Dictionary). These are cocaine, crack-cocaine, methamphetamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine. These drugs are very …show more content…

Ann Pietrangelo of Healthline.com lists these organs as the digestive and excretory system, circulatory and respiratory systems, skeletal and muscular systems, and the reproductive system. In the digestive and excretory systems, caffeine increases the acid in your stomach causing heartburn or upset stomach. Since it’s a diuretic, it tells your body to get rid of water. Nausea and vomiting can be triggered from caffeine withdraw. Caffeine overdose can cause excessive thirst, diarrhea, and increased urination. The circulatory and respiratory system can make your blood pressure go up. People with irregular heart rhythms, the caffeine can make the heart work harder than normal. Large amounts of caffeine consumption can interfere with absorption and metabolism of calcium. This can lead to osteoporosis. With the reproductive system, Pietrangelo points out that caffeine travels within the bloodstream and will cross into the placenta. This can cause a baby’s heart rate and metabolism to increase. Caffeine in large amounts can slow fetal growth and increase the risk of miscarriages. Painful lumps in the breast (fibrocystic disease) can also be a symptom of caffeine. Along with all the adverse side effects of caffeine, there are some health benefits when it’s taken in

Get Access