How Caffeine Affects Your Body
Wakes You Up
Caffeine boosts your energy and mood and makes you more alert. That can sometimes be helpful, especially in the morning or when you're trying to work. Though your body doesn't store it, caffeine can affect you for up to 6 hours after you swallow it. But more is not always better. Too much can push you over the line from alert to jittery and anxious.
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Interferes With Sleep
Too much caffeine can make it hard to nod off when you go to bed at night. Even moderate amounts can cause insomnia in some people, especially if you have it too close to bedtime. The effects may be worse as you age. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening if you notice it affects your sleep. And remember, it's not just in tea and coffee. It's also in chocolate, energy drinks, and other prepackaged foods and drinks.
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Raises Heart Rate
Caffeine is a stimulant and may cause your heart to beat a little faster as it wakes you up. For most folks that's not a problem. But if you have too much caffeine or you're overly sensitive, your pulse may go up too much or stay high too long. It may even feel like your heart beats in a weird rhythm, sometimes called heart palpitations. Some people say it feels as if their ticker skips a beat.
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Causes a Headache
If you have caffeine every day, whether in a pill, energy bar, or cup of coffee, you build up tolerance. Then, without your daily dose, you might get a "rebound" headache. It may be worse if you quit caffeine completely and all at once. You'll find your head will feel better if you reduce caffeine a little at a time.
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Makes You Pee
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it can make you pee more. Around 300 milligrams of caffeine -- the amount in three cups of coffee -- is enough to do it if you're not used to it. Water loss is minor and is unlikely to cause dehydration as long as you are otherwise healthy. The diuretic effect can fade if you get the same regular daily dose of caffeine because you build up tolerance.
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Boosts Sports Performance
If you do "endurance" sports, like running, biking, or swimming, caffeine might help you go faster and with less muscle pain. It seems to work best in a non-liquid form, like a pill, taken about an hour before you exercise so that your body can absorb it completely. Around 200 to 400 milligrams (2 to 4 cups of coffee) should do it. More than that doesn't seem to help further.
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Helps You Recover From a Workout
Some studies show that caffeine can help your body recover more quickly after hard exercise by making and restocking a stored form of fuel called glycogen. It seems to do this best if you combine it with carbohydrates, like in certain sports gels, sports bars, and drinks. Just take care not to overdo the caffeine, which could have the opposite effect on recovery or performance if it interferes with your sleep.
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Raises Blood Pressure
Though the reason isn't clear, caffeine can spike your blood pressure for a short while and sometimes over the long term as well. It could be that it blocks a hormone that keeps your arteries wide and pressure down. Or it might cause your body to release more adrenaline, a hormone that raises blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about how much caffeine you can have if you have high blood pressure or heart problems.
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Protects Against Disease
Caffeine seems to help prevent gallstones and inflammation, among other medical problems. Some studies show that regular caffeine might help keep away certain neurological diseases, like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. More research is needed.
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Affects Menopause
Women pass through menopause around age 50, a phase that brings an end to their monthly cycle. Caffeine can worsen the sudden body heat and sweats, known as hot flashes, that often happen at this time of life. The symptoms can go on for 10 years or more. Your doctor may be able to help you with hormone therapy if they get in the way of your everyday routine.
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How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
It depends on your weight, diet, medications, and overall health. Up to about 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is OK for most healthy adults. Over 600 milligrams daily is probably too much. But some people are just more sensitive to it. If you notice stomach problems, headaches, muscle twitches, or heart palpitations, it might be time to cut back. Talk to your doctor about how much is safe if you're pregnant or have heart trouble.
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Sources Medically Reviewed on 03/29/2019 Reviewed by Carol DerSarkissian on March 29, 2019
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SOURCES:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine: "Sleep and Caffeine."
American Migraine Foundation: "Caffeine and Migraine."
Consumer Reports: "Are You Getting Too Much Caffeine?"
Current Medical Chemistry: "Protective effects of the caffeine against neurodegenerative diseases."
Frontiers in Nutrition: "The Impact of Coffee and Caffeine on Multiple Sclerosis Compared to Other Neurodegenerative Diseases."
Harvard Health Publications: "Menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats can last for years," "The latest scoop on the health benefits of coffee."
Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine: "Twelve Simple Tips to Improve Your Sleep."
Institute For Scientific Information On Coffee: "Sports Performance," "Fluid Balance," Caffeine."
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine: "Caffeine Effects on Sleep Taken 0, 3, or 6 Hours before Going to Bed."
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport: "Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: A meta-analysis."
Journal of Strength And Conditioning Research: "Efficacy of acute caffeine ingestion for short-term high-intensity exercise performance: a systematic review."
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: "International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and performance."
Mayo Clinic: "Is there a link between caffeine consumption and menopause symptoms?" "Caffeine: How does it affect blood pressure?" "Expert Answers: I've been seeing ads that say caffeinated drinks hydrate you as well as water does. Is this true?" "Curbing your caffeine habit."
Michigan State University Extension: "Health benefits and risks associated with caffeine."
National Sleep Foundation: "Caffeine and Sleep."
Nemours Foundation: "Caffeine."
University of Michigan Health Service: "Caffeine."
FDA: "Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?"
Reviewed by Carol DerSarkissian on March 29, 2019
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
