University of Memphis students are no strangers to the jolting effects caffeine provides, but students who consume more than the morning cup of coffee may be causing themselves serious health problems.
Large amounts of caffeine, including that in energy drinks and chocolate, have been linked to heart disease, some cancers and birth defects in developing fetuses, said Jaqueline De Fouw, U of M health educator.
"Caffeine can be detrimental to your heart, causing faster and irregular heart beats, which can lead to higher blood pressure," she said.
Hyatt O'Connell, a graduate student in communication, drinks an average of 10-17 caffeinated beverages a day and cannot function without it.
"I can't feel awake on my own anymore," he said. "It's hard to make myself move, and when I do, I'm just tired."
O'Connell has continued his caffeine routine for almost five years, and without his daily "fix," the symptoms of his withdrawal are severe.
"I become a monster of sorts, and I'm unbearable to be around," he said. "I have throbbing headaches and my senses are heightened. I don't feel as if I'm getting anything done."
Along with O'Connell's symptoms, caffeine withdrawal can cause increased anxiety, diarrhea or constipation, insomnia and gastro-intestinal problems, according to De Fouw.
Pregnant women who consume three or more coffee drinks a day are at higher risk for health problems as well as miscarriages and slower growth rate in fetuses, according to Medlineplus, a service of the National Library of Medicine.
Much like cigarette smokers, serious caffeine addicts can spend hundreds of dollars monthly on caffeinated products.
Paul Lynch, a junior economics and Russian major, drinks 7-10 caffeinated products and spends upwards of $30 a week on Diet Cokes and coffee drinks.
"I feel like I'm a slave to it," he said. "I don't know what I would do without it."
Without caffeine, Lynch experiences similar withdrawal affects that O'Connell does, including headaches and nervousness.
"It's especially bad around exam times, and when work is stressful," he said.
Slowly weaning from the average amount of caffeine typically consumed and even going cold turkey is found to be the best way to rid caffeine addiction, De Fouw said.
Withdrawal symptoms generally last between 12-48 hours before ceasing, according to www.caffeinedependence.org, and symptoms hold true for those who drink as little as one cup a day.
"Every 4-5 months I usually take about a month-long break from caffeine," O'Connell said. "It's monstrously unhealthy, and I will begin to feel that way. I'm only mildly moody and not so much homicidal when I gradually cut back."
One to two cups of coffee, or about 280 mgs of caffeine, is considered safe, according to the American Heart Association.
Caffeine should be avoided before any activity that already increases blood pressure like exercise and physical labor.
"I have the ability to stop," O'Connell said. "I'm aware that my habit is a problem."
