Caffeine may be an appealing option for late night study sessions or early morning pick-me-ups, but the negative health effects that a person can experience as a result of caffeine intake may outweigh the short-term benefits provided by the substance.
Fourth-year College student Geoff Yenson, who works as a Starbucks barista part time, said he knows about the health effects of caffeine but continues to drink it anyway.
"I have an addiction to caffeine, and I am aware of the dangers surrounding it, but I don't plan on stopping," Yenson said.
The most common sources of caffeine include coffee, tea and cola. While small amounts of any of these drinks per day will not harm anyone, they should not be abused or used in large quantities. University Dining Services nutritionist Paula Caravati suggests that the maximum amount of caffeine a person should consume per day is 200 to 300 milligrams.
Although the effects of caffeine consumed by an individual in a given time period differ, it is a general rule that caffeine will reach its highest concentration in the bloodstream anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes after consumption, with the effects wearing off within a few hours, according to the Asian Food Information Center online.
"I can usually tell when my caffeine buzz starts, but I don't feel it when it wears off," Yenson said.
Since the effects of caffeine vary, the amount of stimulation and increased alertness also changes from person to person.
People who consume large amounts of caffeine daily may not admit to an addiction to the substance, but if they were to deprive their body of their usual caffeine intake for one day, there would be noticeable effects that indicate withdrawal, Caravati said. People who consume a lot of caffeine may experience headaches if they try to cut back or stop all together.
If these side effects are reoccurring, students may have a caffeine dependency or even an addiction.
Second-year College student Joanna Ernst said she consumes about three to four caffeinated drinks per day, but hesitated to admit a substance addiction.
"I have been trying to cut down on caffeinated drinks, especially soda, but I find that during stressful times like exam week I double my intake," Ernst said. "It's an effective fallback.
Surely a lot of students increase their caffeine consumption during stressful periods, but one study conducted by researchers at the Duke University Medical Center in 2002 found that regular caffeine intake can actually increase a person's stress level. They also noticed an increase in blood pressure that could lead to serious health problems in the future.
If regular caffeine intake is continued for an extended period of time, the study said a person's risk of heart attack or stroke increases considerably.
Although caffeine primarily has effects on blood pressure, Duke researchers said reduced caffeine consumption is beneficial for the overall health of an individual.
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