A natural stimulant called “Caffeine” can help people get through a night shift, an afternoon slump, or trouble getting out of bed due to lethargy. Many individuals rely on it to help them get through all of the aforementioned circumstances and many more.
Additionally, caffeine is thought to have some detrimental effects on anxiety and sleeping. Research suggests that it may offer a lot of health benefits, nevertheless.
It is an organic stimulant found in tea, coffee, and cocoa plants. Historians trace the origins of brewed tea to 2737 B.C. Many years later, an Ethiopian shepherd is said to have found coffee after seeing how much more vitality it provided his goats.
In the late 1800s, cold drinks with caffeine were introduced which were then soon followed by various energy drinks now available in the market.
Sources of Caffeine
Caffeine can also be obtained from any food item that has an energy-boosting promise, including confectionery, pharmaceuticals, and some chewing gums
In the most extreme situations, a caffeine overdose can be fatal, although most people only have mild symptoms that pass once the caffeine has been eliminated from the body.
Causes of Caffeine Overdose and Risk Factors
When you consume too much caffeine through food, drink, or prescription, you risk suffering from a caffeine overdose. But other people may consume far more than the daily suggested quantity every day without experiencing any negative effects. This is not advised since excessive caffeine consumption can result in serious health problems, such as irregular heartbeat and seizures. Hormonal abnormalities may also result from consistently consuming excessive levels of coffee.
If you don’t drink coffee often, your body can be more sensitive to it, so try not to consume too much at once. Even if you habitually take a lot of caffeine, you should stop if you experience any uncomfortable side effects.
Side Effects of Excess Caffeine
Usually, caffeine consumption is deemed safe. Excess intake of it may, however, result in some side effects like aberrant heartbeats, tremors, anxiety, even restlessness, and trouble sleeping.
For a few individuals, it may even result in high blood pressure and migraines.
Furthermore, caffeine has the tendency to easily pass through the placenta which may cause miscarriage or low birth weight. Thus it is advisable to limit the intake of caffeine when pregnant.
Caffeine also has the ability to interact with other drugs. Thus, when an individual is taking medications, it is important to read the instructions carefully and consume caffeine. Generally, muscle relaxants and antidepressants do interact with caffeine.
What Signs Indicate a Caffeine Overdose?
There are several symptoms associated with this illness. Because certain symptoms may not appear significant, you might not notice that you’ve taken too much caffeine right away. You could, for instance, encounter –
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Increased thirst
- Insomnia
- Fever
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
Other signs and symptoms are more serious and need emergency medical attention. The following are some of the most severe signs of caffeine overdose.
- Confusion/Hallucinations
- Irregular or fast heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Uncontrollable muscle movements
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting
- Convulsions
Caffeine overdose can also be harmful to infants. When breast milk includes an excessive quantity of caffeine, this can occur. Nausea and muscles that contract and then relax repeatedly are some modest symptoms. These symptoms may be accompanied by more severe indicators of caffeine overdose, such as vomiting, fast breathing, and shock.
If you or a kid in your care exhibits these symptoms, consult a doctor right once for a diagnosis and treatment.
Detection of A Caffeine Overdose
Inform your doctor of any caffeinated products you had ingested before experiencing symptoms if you think you may have overdosed on caffeine.
There’s a good chance that your blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing rate will also be recorded. To determine the medicines in your system, your temperature could be obtained in addition to a urine or blood test.
Conclusion
Most of the time, a caffeine overdose can be handled without causing long-term health issues. However, this condition has the potential to be fatal, particularly in younger individuals like newborns and toddlers.
Anxiety and other pre-existing medical issues might get worse from caffeine excess. According to a 2013 assessment by Trusted Source, the effects of excessive caffeine use are similar to those of other substances including amphetamines and cocaine.
When medical care is received too late, there may be fatalities as well as irreparable health issues.
Author – Zainab Cutlerywala (INFS Faculty)
