Caffeine Side Effects Can Help and Harm You
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The caffeine side effects that are associated with the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world are varied. Caffeine can be found in a large variety of beverages that are popularly consumed for the purpose of maintaining mental alertness. Largely considered to be an addictive substance, there are people whose daily rituals become centered around ingesting the plant-based substance. While there are some beneficial side effects of caffeine, there are also some adverse symptoms that can result from excessive consumption that caffeine-lovers everywhere should be aware of.
Beneficial Caffeine Side Effects
On the positive end of caffeine side effects, there’s no denying the sharpness and clarity caffeine can provide to those who feel decidedly less than awake in the mornings. Although this is by and large the primary purpose for which people approach the alkaloid, caffeine does carry some notable health benefits, aside from stimulating the various systems of the body. For starters, caffeine can help to prevent Parkinson’s disease and heart disease, and when it used along with other medicinal substances, it can also help to treat migraine headaches.
The Adverse Side Effects of Caffeine
Although it’s estimated that the world consumes 120,000 tons of caffeine every year, it’s well documented that the people who don’t believe in moderating their intake can come to experience some of the more negative side effects of caffeine. While it can create a sense of energy and alertness, an excess of the drug can eventually lead to a total crash of the system, because the body’s adrenal glands are being over-stimulated.
Additionally, with excessive caffeine use typically comes symptoms of “caffeinism,” such as anxiety, shakiness, aggressiveness, and insomnia. Caffeine also compounds pre-existing tension within the body, which tightens the muscles and raises blood pressure. This overstimulation can eventually lead to dizziness, nausea, and it can be one of the causes of depression.
In women, caffeine can amplify the effects of PMS. Moreover, consuming caffeine in excess can increase estrogen levels within the body, which may lead to the creation of uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous tumors that develop in the muscles and tissues of the uterus.
The Most Serious Caffeine Side Effects
Caffeine can actually lead to mental disorders, including caffeine intoxication, caffeine induced sleep disorder, and anxiety disorder and may promote certain types of osteoporosis.
If a person who ingests caffeine should experience any of the following side effects of caffeine -- hives, itching, chest-tightening, diarrhea, or hand tremors – a doctor must be sought out immediately, as an allergic reaction to the substance may be occurring.
