Tired or Wired? Caffeine and Your Brain

HEALTH & WELLNESS Tired or Wired? Caffeine and Your Brain

A hot cup of coffee or tea is a highlight Your heart may race, or might lead someone to of the morning for some people. It can you can feel anxious or drink more than they make you feel awake and alert. Caffeine sick to your stomach. normally would, is the chemical that causes these increasing their sensations. But does caffeine have But caffeine impairment.” other effects on the brain? doesn’t affect everyone the But research Caffeine is found naturally in tea and same way. That’s suggests that coffee. But it is added to energy drinks because people’s caffeine on its and many types of soda. It’s even put bodies can break own is likely in some snack foods and medications. it down at different harmless for most More than eight out of 10 adults in the speeds. How fast healthy adults in low U.S. consume caffeine in some form. your body does this to moderate amounts, depends largely on your says Cornelis. She and So how does caffeine wake you up? genes, explains Dr. Marilyn others are studying whether Your body naturally produces a Cornelis, a nutrition researcher at it might even have positive effects on chemical called adenosine. It builds up Northwestern University. thinking, learning, and memory. in your body during the day. Experts recommend some people avoid “When you drink caffeine, your “The sleepiness you feel at the end of caffeine. These include people with attention is greater,” she says. “That the day—that’s adenosine,” explains Dr. gut troubles like acid reflux, people contributes to our brain’s ability to Sergi Ferre, a brain scientist at NIH. Its who have trouble sleeping, and people retain information. That might lead to buildup tells your brain when it’s time who have high blood pressure or heart improvements in long-term cognitive to rest. problems. Children, teens, and women function.” Her team is exploring new who are pregnant or breastfeeding ways to measure the effects of caffeine Caffeine blocks adenosine from are often advised to stay away from on the brain and the role genes play in working on brain cells. This prevents caffeine, too. Talk with your health care your body’s response.you from feeling sleepy. “But the body provider if you’re concerned about adapts,” Ferre says. If you regularly caffeine and your health. While a few cups of unsweetened consume caffeine, your body produces coffee or tea a day are likely fine for more adenosine. So people need more “Even healthy people should avoid most people, Cornelis adds, some caffeine over time to get the same mixing caffeine with alcohol,” explains sources of caffeine can contain a lot of wakeful feeling. Ferre. “This is because caffeine can sugar. Excess sugar isn’t good for the block the brain from feeling the body or brain, she says. Adenosine also makes it unpleasant to depressant effects of alcohol. This quit caffeine suddenly, says Source: NIH News in Health. Ferre. If you take away the Learn more at newsinhealth. caffeine, extra adenosine in the body can cause feelings Stay Alert Without Caffeine nih.gov. of withdrawal for a while. Get enough sleep. Most adults need between seven These include headaches and and eight hours of sleep every night to feel rested. increased sleepiness. Eat regularly. When you don’t eat, your blood sugar Caffeine also interacts with levels drop, making you feel tired. other chemicals in the brain. If you consume more than Drink water. Staying hydrated can help you stay alert. normal, some of these Take a break for exercise. If you’re feeling drained in interactions are what make the middle of the day, it helps to move around. you feel “overcaffeinated.”