Caffeine and The Body

By Sanam Marjan

Caffeine is a chemical that is found in coffee, tea, cola, guarana and other products.

Caffeine is a stimulant that induces mental alertness. But it has many uses in combination with painkillers such as aspirin and acetaminophen and a chemical called ergotamine for treating migraine headaches. It is also used with painkillers for simple headaches and prevention.

How to use it

Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system, heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure. Caffeine can raise blood pressure, but might not have this effect on people who use it all the time. Most people drink caffeine in the form of a beverage. Within an hour it is absorbed in the small intestine and becomes available throughout the blood and most parts of the body, including the brain.

And as it starts entering your brain, it starts competing with adenosine.

Blood concentrations of caffeine tend to be at their peak within two hours, meaning the caffeine concentration in the body is the highest.

The caffeine in the brain is competing with adenosine and prevents it from binding to A1 receptors. This is what stimulates wakefulness. Eventually, caffeine molecules will unbind from the adenosine receptors as all molecules generally do. By early evening, most of the caffeine from the morning cup of coffee has metabolized. There are significantly fewer caffeine molecules occupying the A1 receptors, so adenosine starts binding to them.

Promoting muscle relaxation and sleepiness, and that’s why you start feeling sleepy.

When you go to sleep and your body starts recovering, the adenosine molecules are metabolized. This is why sleep is important.

Cons and pros of drinking caffeine

Cons:

1. Caffeinated drinks can cause dental problems; Drinking coffee or tea can stain teeth.

2. Caffeine can cause insomnia; it makes falling asleep harder, which could lead to insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

3. Caffeine can affect the heart and head; Large amounts of caffeine can raise blood pressure in some people.

Pros:

1. Caffeine can increase alertness; Caffeine acts as a stimulant, and stimulants can help with attention issues,

2. Caffeine in small doses can reduce headaches; A small amount of caffeine may ease headache

3. Caffeine may help in bowel movement; Drinking coffee can stimulate movement of the muscles in your colon that cause bowel movements.

Source; https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/5-reasons-teens-should-limit-caffeine/