In recent years, there has been a lot of research into the effects of caffeine on mental health. According to these studies, it appears that some caffeine may be helpful for certain conditions, but may aggravate others.
It should come as no surprise that caffeine has been associated with anxiety. Caffeine is believed to induce anxiety by blocking proteins called adenosine receptors on the surface of nerve cells in the brain.
For those with any type of anxiety, all forms of caffeine should be avoided, including coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and medications that contain caffeine. Moreover, people with high levels of anxiety appear to be more susceptible to the actions of caffeine.
An often overlooked cause of insomnia is the use of stimulating beverages. Caffeine is a stimulant, the effects of which can last up to 20 hours, so some people will have disturbed sleep patterns even when their last cup of coffee or tea was in the morning. Sensitivity to the stimulant effects of caffeine varies greatly from one person to the next depending on how quickly the body can eliminate caffeine.
Even small amounts of caffeine may be enough to cause sleep disturbances in some people. Anyone experiencing sleep difficulties should avoid all caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee, tea, colas, cocoa and chocolate, especially in the evenings. Additionally, many over-the-counter drugs contain caffeine and stimulate the nervous system, making sleep more difficult.
In recent years, there has been a lot of research into the effects of caffeine on mental health. According to these studies, it appears that some caffeine may be helpful for certain conditions, but may aggravate others.
It should come as no surprise that caffeine has been associated with anxiety. Caffeine is believed to induce anxiety by blocking proteins called adenosine receptors on the surface of nerve cells in the brain.
For those with any type of anxiety, all forms of caffeine should be avoided, including coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and medications that contain caffeine. Moreover, people with high levels of anxiety appear to be more susceptible to the actions of caffeine.
An often overlooked cause of insomnia is the use of stimulating beverages. Caffeine is a stimulant, the effects of which can last up to 20 hours, so some people will have disturbed sleep patterns even when their last cup of coffee or tea was in the morning. Sensitivity to the stimulant effects of caffeine varies greatly from one person to the next depending on how quickly the body can eliminate caffeine.
Even small amounts of caffeine may be enough to cause sleep disturbances in some people. Anyone experiencing sleep difficulties should avoid all caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee, tea, colas, cocoa and chocolate, especially in the evenings. Additionally, many over-the-counter drugs contain caffeine and stimulate the nervous system, making sleep more difficult.