Adverse Effects of Caffeine

Nearly 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine every day. One only has to look at the morning lines at gourmet coffee shops, afternoon fast food soda requests and the popularity of energy drinks to see Americans' love affair with caffeine and its promise to bring wakefulness and alertness. Of course, the occasional coffee or soda will do just that--reduce tiredness. But heavy or frequent caffeine use has been shown to cause many detrimental effects to the body and mind.

Heart Stress

• Caffeine's effect on the heart causes it to speed up, stressing it. Blood circulation is thereby overstimulated, and blood pressure can rise. From the time of consumption, heart rate increases approximately 15 to 45 minutes later. This time frame might change if the caffeine is interacting with alcohol or a medication. Too much caffeine has also shown to cause cardiac arrhythmias.

Digestion and the Stomach

• When caffeine enters the stomach, it causes the organ to produce acid. Too much acid can eat away the lining of your stomach and cause serious distress. Further, caffeine has been shown to loosen the muscles of the intestinal system, which slows digestion. More fatty acids remain in the blood. Caffeine drinkers who have stomach ulcers might see their ulcers further irritated by caffeine.

Affects Sleep

• People consume caffeine to wake up or stay alert, therefore it is easy to make the connection that caffeine would prevent sleep or cause serious disturbance to the sleep process. Caffeine stays in the system for approximately six to eight hours, so even a beverage consumed many hours before bed could affect sleep. Caffeine, a stimulant, has been shown to make it difficult to fall asleep, achieve a deep, restful sleep or to remain asleep for an entire night.

The Jitters

• Anxiety, shaking hands and general nervousness are all side effects of consuming caffeine. Caffeine directly stimulates the area of the brain that regulates alertness, causing it to go into overdrive. It can also cause heart palpitations, headaches and irritability. Doses of caffeine more than 750 mg (equal to seven cups of coffee, with a typical single dose being 125 mg) can cause the user to suffer an anxiety attack. People who are already under a doctor's care for anxiety might find that caffeine exacerbates their symptoms.

Overworked Organs

• Aside from the heart and stomach, caffeine can also negatively effect other areas in the body as well. The body's pancreas suffers because it amps up its insulin production when caffeine causes the body to produce extra blood sugar. In long-term caffeine users, the pancreas becomes unable to stop working--it is constantly producing insulin even when the body doesn't need it, which can lead to hypoglycemia.

Addiction

• Although it not considered a drug, caffeine is as addictive as many drugs on the market and has hefty withdrawal penalties as well. It works the brain the same way that amphetamines and cocaine work to increase dopamine. Users can build a tolerance quickly, requiring them to consume more and more caffeine to feel the same wakefulness or alertness. They consume caffeine, feel awake and alert, then crash shortly after. Wanting to avoid the crash, they consume more. When trying to quit, headaches, stomach issues, irritability and tiredness might be so great that the person finds it necessary to start consuming caffeine again.