Most human beings are creatures of habit and for most us that includes at least one cup of coffee a day, usually first thing in the morning.
What is caffeine exactly and how does it affect the body? Caffeine is a drug, yes a drug, and it stimulates the central nervous system and the heart, but also it is said that in the short term it can increase the blood pressure. Caffeine will affect the blood pressure levels when taken in excessive amounts or if taken by people who are hypertensive (have high blood pressure already). The recommended daily intake is 2 – 3 cups of coffee, however in case you are hypertensive or have to take medications due to different medical conditions it might be necessary to switch to decaffeinated coffee.
It will take less then an hour for the caffeine to take effect; you will be more alert and have more energy. However excessive consumption of caffeine might have some unwanted side effects and it might be advisable to cut back even if you are not hypertensive.
The side effects of too much caffeine can be anything from restlessness, irritability, and anxiety to headaches, diarrhea, muscle tremors and abnormal heart rhythms. Four and more cups of coffee a day can do this to you. Also you will have to cut back or stop drinking coffee if you are hyper sensitive to caffeine, meaning you need very small amounts of caffeine for them to work faster in your system. Sensitivity to caffeine might be due to different factors such as body mass, the levels of stress and how much of caffeine you take daily (meaning if you do not drink much coffee or no coffee to begin with, it will take less amount to have negative effect on your body and mood).
It would also be advisable to consider your caffeine intake (whether it is through coffee, tea or caffeinated drinks) if you have irregular sleeping patterns or you do not sleep well in general. It can become a vicious cycle. You do not sleep well, so you take caffeine to give you more energy and make you more alert and productive during the day. In turn, the levels of caffeine in your body are high and you cannot sleep at night. And the cycle continues. Remember sleep deprivation has an accumulative effect and will catch up with you eventually, so cut down on the coffee and try to get more sleep. Also in case you take medications for any type of medical condition, it would be advisable to talk to the doctor and see if decrease in the daily intake of caffeine is needed.