Caffeine is a drug. Coffee contains caffeine, and about 90% of Americans drink coffee, many of them in amounts that pour more than 300 milligrams of caffeine into their systems every day. Caffeine is a mild stimulant. It makes you more alert by fending off sleep. It's the most widely used drug in the world, and in contained in many foods and also in numerous stay awake medications like No Doz.
Never forget, however, that caffeine is a drug. It has, on occasion, even been considered a drug of abuse. although it can keep you awake and make you feel more alert, it does not necessarily improve your performance.
Like other drugs, including alcohol, you may think you're doing great at a task, but a later check could reveal errors in thinking. These errors are caused by the disorientation and irritable headaches of something called coffee nerves.
Since coffee is a stimulant, and since it tends to keep you awake, it should be avoided for several hours before bedtime. A strong cup of coffee, consumed an hour before you go to bed can cause restlessness and a decreased quality of sleep. In other words, coffee before going to bed causes or aggravates insomnia.
Caffeine also causes or aggravates other health problems, like irregular heartbeats, ulcers and heartburn. It may even raise cholesterol levels.
Because caffeine is a drug, and because it is addictive, it can cause withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. Reduce your intake gradually or you will suffer from headaches and restlessness.
You'll find other tips for kicking the caffeine habit on the next page.
