Caffeine withdrawal is not to be taken lightly

What’s a “coffeeholic”?

Coffee drinkers often jokingly remark that they can’t function without their daily dose of caffeine. The fact is that most of them probably can’t. Caffeine addiction is a real addiction and “coffeeholics” can expect some uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when trying to cut down on their consumption.

What to expect

Research studies have found that caffeine addiction as well as caffeine withdrawal is real! It’s interesting to observe how the benefits of moderate caffeine intake (one to two and absolute maximum three cups per day) quickly turn into corresponding liabilities when the body is deprived of its fix.

Expect caffeine withdrawal symptoms to start about 12 to 24 hours after your last cuppa, to reach a peak 48 hours later and to last for up to nine days or longer.

Following are the top ten caffeine withdrawal symptoms you need to know about:

1. Headaches. Really bad headaches are one of the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. It happens because caffeine is able to block receptors in the brain that can dilate blood vessels that cause headaches. Without that happening, headaches are more likely to occur.
2. Irritability. This is another common symptom that will have everyone in your close vicinity scurrying for cover. You best take to the hills until it’s over.
3. Sleepiness. Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It can help you feel more alert, less tired and keep you awake for longer periods of time. Take it away and the result is often excessive sleepiness and drowsiness.
4. Fatigue. Caffeine usually gives you a burst of energy; lack of it has the opposite effect.
5. Nausea and or vomiting. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps may occur.
6. Muscle and body weakness, aches and pain. Caffeine usually relaxes smooth muscles and improves exercise performance. Without it, muscle pain may occur, mainly in your upper body, including your shoulders and neck.
7. Constipation. Caffeine stimulates the bowel and the movement of fluid and solid wastes from the body is therefore promoted. Without its daily dose of caffeine, constipation may result.
8. An inability to focus and concentrate. Caffeine is famous for its ability to conjure and sustain mental alertness and short term memory recall. Studies have shown that women who drink coffee are less likely to suffer memory loss later in life. However, withdraw the caffeine and you have the opposite result.
9. Depression. The abovementioned study also showed that women who drank coffee were less likely to develop depression. Depression is nonetheless a common coffee withdrawal symptom. Sleep problems, another common withdrawal symptom, tend to worsen the symptoms of depression.
10. Anxiety. Physical symptoms that may accompany the feelings of anxiety include the jitters, insomnia, fear, sweating and shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and or heart palpitations, chest pain and a decreased sex drive.While the potential benefits of drinking moderate amounts of coffee has been extolled, it is also true that there are some valid concerns about drinking high amounts of coffee, becoming addicted and the very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that may follow when you stop drinking so much coffee. The answer, as with so many other issues in life, seems to be moderation!

 

Sources

Coffee benefits: perform better and live longer. Retrieved from: http://www.bulletproofexec.com/
Henshaw, A. 2012. Caffeine withdrawal: It’s a real thing. Retrieved from: http://www.symptomfind.com
Short-term effects of caffeine. Retrieved from: http://www.muggswigz.com/
The effects of caffeine on the body. Retrieved from: http://www.healthline.com/