Most people rely on a cup of coffee or a jolt of caffeine to help them get through the day. Caffeine is simply available to everyone, especially in the US. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says about 80 percent of US adults take caffeine daily. However, caffeine does way more than just keeping you alert. It is a central nervous system stimulant that functionally affects the body in many ways. Caffeine has no nutritional value on its own, and you may not notice it’s in your drink. In fact, some of the medications you might have taken contain caffeine.

Do you know that caffeine being an ingredient in your coffee, causes some symptoms? After consuming caffeine, you may get more energetic, but too much caffeine may cause withdrawal symptoms over time.
According to mayo clinic, it is safe for most healthy adults to consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. However, you should know that the standardized cup of caffeine is eight ounces. If you are probably using a mug or getting your fox at a coffee house, there are chances that you are drinking 16 ounces or more. So, in order to avoid this, it is very important for you to carefully read labels before consuming.

Furthermore, continuous daily consumption of the same amount of caffeine makes your body develop a tolerance to it. However, some factors like your age, body mass, and overall health can naturally determine your tolerance to caffeine. Healthwise, if you want to decrease the amount of caffeine you take, you should lower your consumption slowly. Consumption of caffeine in your food or drink has some health consequences on your body, which can be harmful, dangerous, or beneficial to your body system.

Circulatory And Respiratory Systems

At first, caffeine is absorbed from your stomach. There is a high speed at which it reaches its highest level in your bloodstream, which might be within an hour or two. The effect of caffeine can be attributed to an increase in adrenaline or a temporary block in the hormones that naturally widen your arteries, thereby increasing your blood pressure for a short time. Mostly, there is no long-term effect on blood pressure, but if you have an irregular heart rhythm, consuming caffeine may make your heart work harder. Therefore, it is advisable for you to ask your doctor if caffeine is safe for you to consume, specifically if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or a heart-related problem.

Too much consumption or an overdose of caffeine may cause rapid or irregular heartbeat and breathing problems. Unfortunately, too much caffeine (overdose) consumption can result in death due to convulsion or irregular heartbeat.

Reproductive System

Caffeine moves within the bloodstream and crosses into the placenta. The consumption of caffeine can cause your baby’s heart rate and metabolism to increase. Why? Because caffeine is a stimulant.
Moreover, too much caffeine can also cause slowed fetal growth and an increased risk of miscarriage. But the good news is that, in most cases, a little caffeine is safe during pregnancy. According to the mayo clinic, you are advised to limit caffeine consumption between 200 and 300 milligrams per day if you are planning to get pregnant. Evidence has shown that a large amount of caffeine can interfere with the estrogen production and metabolism needed to conceive.

Central Nervous System

When caffeine reaches the brain, one of the most noticeable effects is alertness. During that period, you will feel more awake and less tired. As a result of this effect, it is a common ingredient in medication to treat or manage drowsiness, headaches, and migraines. Various studies have also shown that people who drink coffee regularly have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia and cut suicide risk by 45%. Although, these benefits are limited to people who drink high-octane coffee, not decaf. Even though some people consider coffee a healthy drink, like most food, overindulging can cause side effects.

One of the most common side effects of caffeine is headaches. This is primarily associated with caffeine withdrawal. Within this period, the blood vessels in the brain become used to caffeine’s effect, so if you suddenly stop consuming caffeine, it can cause a headache.

Caffeine consumption, as earlier stated, has some health consequences on your body. It may appear harmful or beneficial, but it is more harmful to some people than benefiting the body system.