P1) Caffeine, a critical part of our daily lives, functions as a source of energy and significantly impacts individuals who consume it. These impacts have affected our sleeping cycles, academic performance, and bodies. Heavy consumption of caffeine has led to adverse effects on college students’ academic careers, as per the Haq and Walsh study conducted at Bethel University. According to them, heavy caffeine consumption diminishes academic performance due to the “high demands and stresses of college and graduate school”, they say,

“it is not surprising that many students sacrifice sleep and substitute with caffeine for the sake of their academic performance. Most students are unaware of the potential repercussions of these behaviors. Associated with these habits of excess caffeine consumption and sleep deficiency, students are not meeting weekly exercise recommendations. Due to busy schedules, nearly 40-50% of college students are deemed physically inactive.”

Many students turn to caffeine to boost their academic performance, often unaware of the potential repercussions. These habits have led to excess caffeine intake and sleep deficiency, resulting in students not meeting weekly exercise recommendations. Busy schedules contribute to nearly 40-50% of college students being deemed physically inactive. Finding a result of ignoring their well-being and instead focusing more on academic performance leaves us unaware of what’s happening to our body, which is constantly on overdrive all the time, heavily affecting us.

P2) Of all college students, reportedly 93% have consumed caffeine, with an average daily intake of 159 mg; frequent consumers averaged 173 mg per day. Among this 93%, only 75% consumed caffeine daily, while 17% had it three times a day or more. The group within the 75% range faces a higher risk of harm compared to those in the 17% range. Those in the 75% range face a higher risk of harm compared to the 17% range, indicating habitual daily consumption for the 75% and less frequent intake for the 17%.

Among college students, a significant majority, reportedly 93%, have consumed caffeine, averaging a daily intake of 159 mg, with frequent consumers averaging 173 mg per day. Interestingly, within this group, only 75% consume caffeine daily, while 17% partake in it three times a day or more. Surprisingly, the 75% range, which habitually consumes caffeine daily, faces a higher risk of potential harm compared to the 17% with less frequent intake. This pattern suggests that habitual daily consumption might pose greater risks in contrast to less frequent consumption.

P3) Consuming excessive caffeine can impact both our mental alertness and physical well-being. Research indicates that prolonged wakefulness induced by caffeine can disrupt our body’s ability to keep pace. It interferes with obtaining deep sleep, reducing its quality due to prolonged mental alertness. Studies conducted by Christopher Drake and other researchers highlight the effects of consuming excessive amounts of caffeine being,

“400 mg of caffeine taken 0, 3, or even 6 hours before bedtime significantly disrupts sleep. Even at 6 hours, caffeine reduced sleep by more than 1 hour. This degree of sleep loss, if experienced over multiple nights, may have detrimental effects on daytime function.”

The impact on our sleep cycle becomes evident when we struggle to sleep because our brains signal wakefulness. This creates a continuous loop, blurring the line between wakefulness and sleep. High school students, affected by constant tiredness, find it challenging to concentrate in class. CBC News shared a video,“Generation Sleep Deprived: How Lack of Sleep Is Hurting Canadian Teens | In-Depth,” highlighting the struggles of sleep-deprived students. The impact of 400 mg of caffeine consumed within 0, 3, or even 6 hours before bedtime is notable in disrupting sleep patterns. Surprisingly, even at the 6-hour mark, caffeine still led to a reduction of over an hour in total sleep duration. Such significant sleep disruption, if repeated over several nights, can profoundly affect daytime functionality, potentially causing detrimental effects on cognitive and physical performance.

P4) This sheds light on the impacts of caffeine consumption, particularly its significant impact on our sleep cycle. Attempting a 1 to 2-hour nap becomes challenging due to the lingering presence of caffeine in our system. Consequently, this situation leads to,

“most people benefit from at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, which is an adequate amount of time for a person to complete a regular sleep cycle. When students lose sleep, they disrupt their sleep cycles and their bodies respond by decreasing their ability to concentrate and complete complex tasks.”

Getting adequate sleep, ideally 7 to 8 hours, is crucial for a complete sleep cycle and overall well-being. Yet, when students compromise on this, disrupting their sleep patterns, it affects their ability to focus and handle complex tasks. Any attempt to grab some rest is thwarted by lingering caffeine, reducing the quality of our deep sleep. The consumption of caffeine later in the day further complicates matters, making concentration difficult in classes and impeding our ability to sleep. Disrupted sleep cycles not only impact focus but also significantly affect academic performance, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy sleep routine for overall wellness.

P5) Caffeine plays a significant role in disrupting our sleep patterns by blocking adenosine receptors responsible for triggering chemicals in our brain that promote wakefulness. Ordinarily, the more these chemicals accumulate, the sleepier we feel, but caffeine inhibits this process. Consequently, the buildup caused by caffeine blocks the usual sleep-inducing mechanism, ensuring our alertness and vigilance persist consistently.

I came across a video by the Sleep Foundation discussing how coffee consumption can negatively impact sleep. It highlights ways to avoid caffeine for better sleep, although the actual relationship between caffeine and sleep is more intricate. Studies reveal that caffeine competes with adenosine for receptors in our brains. However, unlike its effect on sleep, caffeine doesn’t decrease adenosine levels in our bodies. Instead, it hampers the reception of adenosine by our brain, reducing drowsiness without altering adenosine amounts in our system.

P6) Caffeine swiftly absorbs into the body, eliciting immediate effects within 5 to 30 minutes of consumption. These effects range from heightened breathing and heart rate to increased mental alertness and physical energy. However, the duration of these effects can vary, lasting up to 12 hours, contingent upon individual differences.

Using more than 600 mg of caffeine daily may lead to enduring consequences. These long-term effects encompass sleeping difficulties, bone thinning, fractures, heightened anxiety, and increased stomach acidity. Furthermore, it can elevate blood pressure, exacerbating existing hypertension conditions.

P7) Research has revealed the influence of caffeine on both sleep quality and academic performance through participant surveys. The findings indicate that non-consumers generally exhibit more favorable sleeping patterns compared to consumers

” study consists of a four section anonymous, Qualtrics online survey with a series of questions regarding caffeine consumption, sleep, and academics. The total amount (mg) of caffeine consumed and total sleep duration was determined for each participant. Results found that non-consumers have longer sleep duration (p=0.002) and higher GPA compared to the consumers group (p< 0.001), non-caffeine consumers have longer sleep duration compared to the high level of caffeine consumption (p=0.041), and that males consume a greater amount (mg) of caffeine than females (p=0.024).

The research utilized an anonymous online survey with four sections focusing on caffeine habits, sleep routines, and academic performance. Each participant’s caffeine intake (measured in mg) and total sleep duration underwent analysis. Significant findings emerged: those not consuming caffeine had longer sleep durations and higher GPAs compared to caffeine consumers. Abstaining from caffeine correlated with longer sleep compared to high caffeine intake. Additionally, males tended to consume more caffeine (mg) than females.

A surprising discovery was the gender-based difference in caffeine consumption. Contrary to expectations, males consumed a higher amount of caffeine than females, challenging the assumption of equal consumption between genders. Interestingly, the study highlighted that females tended to have longer sleep durations than males when consuming caffeine, suggesting a potential sleep discrepancy influenced by gender among caffeine consumers.

P8) This concept revolves around the impact of alcohol and caffeine consumption on our central nervous system, causing adverse effects on our bodies. Caffeine, classified as a stimulant, heightens brain and nervous system activity, elevating the circulation of chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline. In smaller quantities, caffeine can induce a sense of alertness and concentration. This revelation often prompts individuals to contemplate ceasing coffee intake altogether.

Understanding the effects of alcohol and caffeine on our central nervous system sheds light on their potential adverse impacts on our bodies. Caffeine, known as a stimulant, increases activity in the brain and nervous system, leading to the release of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline. In smaller doses, caffeine can boost alertness and enhance concentration. Discovering these effects often prompts people to consider completely stopping their intake of coffee and other caffeinated beverages.

P9) Caffeine’s impact extends beyond its physiological effects, influencing societal behavior by driving increased spending and impulsive purchases. A study conducted by USF Innovation delved into caffeine’s role in impulse control. Lead author Dipayan Biswas, the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing at USF, highlighted how caffeine, acting as a potent stimulant, triggers dopamine release, stimulating both the mind and body. This heightened state of energy tends to amplify impulsivity and diminish self-control. Consequently, increased caffeine intake correlates with impulsive shopping behavior, resulting in the purchase of a greater number of items and higher spending. The research underscores how caffeine significantly influences individuals, leading them to buy more than intended, even if they initially intended to purchase only a few items.

The impact of caffeine transcends mere physiological effects, significantly influencing societal behavior, particularly in driving heightened spending and impulsive purchases. USF Innovation’s study, led by Dipayan Biswas, the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing, delved into caffeine’s role in controlling impulses. Biswas emphasized how caffeine, a potent stimulant, triggers dopamine release, energizing both the mind and body. This heightened energy often escalates impulsiveness while reducing self-control. Consequently, heightened caffeine consumption tends to correlate with impulsive shopping tendencies, resulting in increased item purchases and greater spending. The research effectively highlights caffeine’s profound influence on individuals, compelling them to exceed their intended purchases, even when their initial plan was to buy only a few items.

P10) According to Curry & Sastio, the heavy marketing of caffeinated energy drinks, particularly to young adults, leads to the belief that caffeine can mitigate some negative effects of alcohol intoxication. When alcohol is combined with caffeine, the caffeine has the potential to conceal the depressant impact of alcohol, giving drinkers a false sense of increased alertness. Consequently, this might lead individuals to consume more alcohol, feeling less impaired than they actually are, thereby elevating the risk of alcohol-related consequences.

Curry & Sastio’s findings shed light on how the aggressive marketing of caffeinated energy drinks, especially targeting young adults, fosters the misconception that caffeine can offset certain adverse effects of alcohol intoxication. Combining alcohol with caffeine has the potential to mask the depressant effects of alcohol, creating a deceptive sense of heightened alertness among drinkers. This false perception might prompt individuals to consume more alcohol, believing themselves to be less impaired than reality, consequently increasing the likelihood of alcohol-related risks and their associated consequences.

P11) This can be seen as a good thing in society that helps people stay away from consuming caffeine but people who drink coffee every day hear this and try to steer off drinking coffee. This leads them down the road of having of showing symptoms of withdrawal. This is seen as them being addicts that need coffee, but try to stay away from it. We find that people who are having withdrawals are heavily affected by it that it affects the hard. Laura Juliano, et. al. state that “Caffeine withdrawal can impair normal functioning (e.g., incapacitating headache, missing work), and it has been suggested that fatigue and performance decrements resulting from acute caffeine abstinence may have important safety implications (e.g., sleepiness while driving) and academic achievement.”

P12) When studying caffeine we find that it has different impacts on people that may affect their academic careers and more. But we found that it impacts a person’s health which is found in us

“exploring eating habits and weight loss mechanisms related to sleep quality have generally been inconclusive. This study explored total daily caffeine consumption (along with different sources of caffeine) as well as dieting and exercising to lose weight in the last 30 days as risk factors for poor sleep quality among an undergraduate university population.”

References

Saira Haq & Katelyn M. Walsh. (2018) Examining the Effects of Caffeine, Sleep and Exercise on the Academic Performance of PA Students. Bethel University 

Caffeine: Consumer Consumption Habits and Safety Perceptions. (15th March 2022). Your Nutrition and Food Safety Resource.

Christopher Drake, Ph.D., F.A.A.S.M., & Timothy Roehrs, Ph.D., F.A.A.S.M., & John Shambroom, B.S., & Thomas Roth, Ph.D. (2013 Nov). Caffeine Effects on Sleep Taken 0, 3, or 6 Hours before Going to Bed.

CBC Radio-Canada. (2018). Generation sleep deprived: How lack of sleep is hurting Canadian teens | In-Depth

Otenyo, Jane Kate. (2015). Sleeping Habits and Sleep Deprivation Among College Students. University of Arizona 

Sleep Is The Foundation. (2023, Oct). Coffee Is Ruining Your Sleep – But It Doesn’t Have To (Our Tips!)

Gabrish, Danielle L. (2017). Caffeine Use, Hours of Sleep, and Academic Performance of Undergraduate College Students. Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences.

University of South Florida (USF Innovation). (July 2022). Drinking Coffee Can Make You More Impulsive and Cause You To Spend More Money

Kim Curry, & Michel J. Stasio. (15 July 2009). The Effects of Energy Drinks Alone and with Alcohol on Neuropsychological Functioning

Laura M. Juliano, & Edward D. Huntley, & Paul T. Harrell, & Ashley T. Westermann. (1 August 2012). Development of the Caffeine Withdrawal Symptom Questionnaire: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms cluster into 7 factors

Elizabeth A Claydon, Jenna M Kahwash, Christa L Lilly, Yahya Alamir, Keith J Zullig. Subjective Sleep Quality, Caffeine, and Dieting Behaviors Among University-Attending Young Adults*9630000

BetterHealthChannel. (8th Feb 2022). Caffeine

MyHealth.Alberta.ca. (1st June 2023) Common Drugs: Caffeine

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (7th December 2022). Alcohol and Caffeine

Grateful Earth. (November 2022). HOW COFFEE AFFECTS THE BRAIN

TYE Medical. (July, 2022). How Does Caffeine Affect Your Body?

Associated Coffee. (2019, April). Fight Grogginess With A Coffee Nap

Miguel S Cabalag, David McDonald Taylor, Jonathan C Knott, Paul Buntine, DeVilliers Smit & Alastair Meyer. (2010 Jan). Recent caffeine ingestion reduces adenosine efficacy in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia