Controlling your Caffeine Intake

Why too many coffees can even cause irregular heartbeats for healthy people.

Coffee. It’s a miracle drug when we need a burst of energy to pull us through an enduring day. But what are the negative impacts of having too much caffeine?

Caffeine is classified as a stimulant drug that increases blood sugar levels, elevates heart rate and blood flow and raises body temperature. It is a diuretic which lowers your water intake, causes you to urinate more frequently and can lead to dehydration. And although small doses can reduce fatigue and increase alertness, large consumptions can trigger not so beneficial side effects.

Rapid heartbeat, medically known as Tachycardia, is one of the most widespread complaints associated with the heart. Patients often seek medical attention for the symptom and find that it is caused by excessive amounts of caffeine; regardless of how healthy a person is. Even in small doses, caffeine can severely affect people who are prone to panic attacks. It can interfere with medications taken to calm down their system and even induce panic attacks and cause mood swings.

One of the worst, but overlooked side effects of coffee is caffeine addiction. Scarily enough, the smallest amounts of daily caffeine intake can form a physical dependence which can quickly turn into a vicious cycle. Most of the time regular coffee drinkers need a caffeine-packed beverage in the morning to get a kick start. If the person misses a daily hit of caffeine, they may even be subject to experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue and headache. This is where it all begins and it may even be that coffee drinkers need a caffeine boost in the morning in the first place because they are already experiencing insufficient sleep which can lead to chronic insomnia.

But these side effects are considered to be quite moderate negative impacts of caffeine. There are more serious symptoms people in high risk medical categories, and even healthy people, may suffer from. People with certain physical conditions need to minimise their intake if they are known to experience high blood pressure and diabetes. It doesn’t end there, though because healthy people can experience problems such as stomach discomfort, anxiety and rapid heartbeats if they drink high levels of caffeine.

The recommended dosage of caffeine is 500mg per day. Think about how much caffeine you are consuming through coffee beverages, certain teas, soft drinks and other beverages. While one serving may be beneficial in the morning, consider reducing caffeine amounts in the evening to prevent over consumption, sleeping disorders, prolonged depression and rapid heartbeats.