How much caffeine is too much?

I'm sure that as college students, we can all agree that we might consume too much caffeine. It’s not like it’s hard either- crazy amounts of caffeine can be so easy to get a hold of. between energy drinks, coffee shops, caffeine gum, etc. there is caffeine everywhere, and overconsumption has become very normalized. Here I am going to talk about some ways to know if you’re consuming too much caffeine or if you're experiencing caffeine overdose.

Shakiness

According to Northwestern Medicine, caffeine can heighten stress and anxiety, which in turn can cause physiologic tremors. To alleviate this symptom, cutting down on the stimulants or partaking in some meditation can help.

Increased Anxiety

Anxiety is not directly caused by caffeine. However, anxiety symptoms can be greatly increased by the overconsumption of caffeine. GoodRx says that if you have a preexisting anxiety condition, you should avoid or greatly limit your intake of caffeine to avoid serious panic attacks and increased general anxiety levels.

Rapid Heartbeat

If caffeine is directly bad for something, it’s your heart. Caffeine is used to give people more energy or to wake them up. However, consuming large amounts over a period of time can increase your risk for heart problems. According to Metro Cardiovascular, caffeine increases the flow of certain chemicals to the heart and this, in turn, increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Restlessness

Medical News Today states that caffeine is almost the most consumed drug in the world. Caffeine, commonly coffee, is consumed to help people stay alert, but in some cases, it does this all too well. Insomnia and restlessness are long-term symptoms that can cause other things like severe anxiety disorders.

Sickness or Vomiting

The National Library of Medicine shares with us a case study about a man who was admitted to the ER after having consumed 6,000 milligrams of caffeine within a short period of time. when he showed up, he was “only” nauseous and was vomiting. he didn’t think anything was wrong, but it turns out he was suffering from a list of problems. Including; nausea, vomiting, palpitations, dizziness, and confusion. The patient had sinus tachycardia, with frequency oscillating between 110 and 150 beats per minute, abdominal tenderness, and clammy skin.

Severe Headaches

Migraine Trust explains why caffeine consumption can cause severe headaches or migraines. Caffeine is a diuretic, which makes you need to go to the bathroom more. This can make you really dehydrated, thus causing headaches. Also, when your body is used to consuming a certain dosage of caffeine, and you stop, it can cause some problems.

Higher Body Temperature

According to JAMA network, caffeine consumption, no matter the dosage, can cause a long-term, and sometimes bad, fever. fevers can lead to other problems, like insomnia, irritability, and even anorexia.

Hallucinations

Science tells us that people who consume way over the recommended amount of caffeine report having “out-of-body experiences” or “hearing voices”. This is caused in part because of the hormone boost caffeine can give you.

In the end, we are all just trying to do what we can to do what we need to do. Sometimes, having the help of caffeine is just what you need. However, if you start experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to start cutting down your caffeine intake or even talk to your doctor. Caffeine overdose is a real thing that doesn’t get talked about much. Consume caffeine responsibly and in moderation.