How Caffeine Works
by Logan
Have you ever wondered how caffeine works? In this article, I found out how caffeine can affect your brain. Adenosine is the chemical in your brain that causes sleepiness. Adenosine binds to receptors on brain cells, causing drowsiness by slowing down nerve cell activity. When a person takes in caffeine it binds to the adenosine receptors in the brain. Now the adenosine cannot bind to the adenosine receptors because the caffeine is already there. Without caffeine the adenosine would cause the cells in the brain to slow down, but with caffeine in your body the cells will speed up. This will allow you to stay awake longer than normal.
There are some problems in taking caffeine as well. When the caffeine wears off you will normally feel extremely tired. Also, if you tend to take caffeine a lot it could cause fatigue and depression. As you could imagine, taking large doses of caffeine every day would be very unhealthy because everybody needs their sleep.
Have you ever taken caffeine in order to stay awake all night? If so, how did you feel the next morning? What substance do you think contains the most caffeine in it?
November 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
This is an interesting post. This is a big deal because over 90% of Americans use this drug every day. On this website (http://www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm)(scroll down page some) I found a hippo thats addicted to coffee, which has caffeine.
I also found more information about Adenosine. Adenosine is created in the brain. Like you said Logan, it causes drowsiness, but it makes you drowsy because of the slowing of nerves. Also it dilates blood vessels to let in more Oxygen, which can make you drowsy.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/caffeine3.htm
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Logan yes I have taken caffeine in order to stay awake. However this was at a party in the capitol clubhouse skating rink. We participated in numerous physical activities as well as non-physical activities. Could the adrenaline from my physical activities, and the caffeine worked in tandem to keep me awake and not drowsy, or was it just the caffeine. When I woke up the next morning I felt better than ever and did not feel drowsy or sleepy. I personally believe that Red Bull has the most caffeine. However on this marketing website called http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database (I do not know how credible this source is) it says Fixx has the most caffeine with 500 Mg’s of caffeine.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
This is a really cool post. Yes i have taken caffine to stay awake, but it always makes me more tired later, so i try to avoid it. Also it is very bad for the natural sleep pattern, and that can be very harmful to the body. i also found on this website http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/caffeine.html
that caffeine can cause the loss of calcium, which can lead to bone derioration.
I have always wondered though, does caffine affect people of different age levels in different ways?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Yes i have taken caffiene to saty awake at parties and for doing homework. Caffiene is considered a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system. http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/caffeine.html
It increases alertiveness and makes you feel more awake. Cafiene is not stored in your bady system but after taking it, it can affect you for up to six hours. i get most of my caffiene from energy drinks. I have found that it doesn’t help with homework because i get all jittery and can’t sit there and do it. It also meeses up how good you sleep that night. The next day I feel fine unless I don’t get a lot of sleep.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Logan, this is a good post. You mention here some negative effects of coffee. I found out that coffee may also have some more positive effects. According to this website: (http://health.howstuffworks.com/caffeine5.htm), recent studies show that coffee may be able to stop headaches, reduce the risk of colon cancer, reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, and even help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Logan this is an informative post. You have mentioned that caffeine increases the speed of cell activity. I found out that caffeine is common ingrediant for over the counter headache medicine. It increases the effectiveness of pain relievers when taken together. Alone caffeine does not relieve pain. It can also be taken with pain killers in order to reduce the chance of addiction.
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/triggers-caffeine
November 19th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Good post! Scientists have determined that rather than a official diagnosis, they would diagnose caffeine addiction. They claim experiencing withdrawl symptoms proves people are really addicted to caffeine. The withdrawl symptoms include headache, tiredness, decreased energy, decreased alertness, sleepiness, depressed mood, irritability, and feeling foggy or lightheaded. The withdrawl symptoms usually last up to nine days. That is a long time to go through withdrawl and explains why people continue to be addicted to caffeine. http://www.medicinenet.com/caffeine/page2.htm
November 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Great post Logan! I have used caffeine to stay awake. In the morning I felt really bad. I went to http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/caffeine.html and it said “Caffeine is usually thought to be safe in moderate amounts. Experts consider 200–300 mg of caffeine a day to be a moderate amount for adults. But consuming as little as 100 mg of caffeine a day can lead a person to become “dependent” on caffeine. This means that someone may develop withdrawal symptoms (like tiredness, irritability, and headaches) if he or she quits caffeine suddenly.” keep up the good work.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Ive always wondered how caffeine works, this post really helped =)
I found a website that has a chart of the amount of caffeine in all sorts of different drinks and medicines.
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/caffeine.html
In this website you find that caffeine isn’t only in sodas and energy drinks. Its also in dark chocolate, gum, cold medicine, ect.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 am
I have never been a fan of caffeine because I think it is an unnatural source of energy. The true best source of energy is a good night’s sleep, and a nutritious diet. Caffeine appears to be all around us everywhere we go, and some people try to get their “fix” and buy into the caffeine powered by wired people drinking energy drinks. Not only are these drink unhealthy, they are expensive, useless, and addictive.
http://www.mindbodyfocused.com/articles/mind/addictions/caffeine-addiction.php
This article draws a fine line to where caffeine begins to take over one’s life and that person is classified with a caffeine addiction. When the person fully relies on this product to even accomplish the slightest task, it is an addiction. Once an addict is hooked on caffeine, they can get sick if they do not have their fix.
I say the best way to avoid being addicted to caffeine is to never be fixed on it in the first place! Stick to the natural sources of energy like a full nights sleep.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Nice post. Here are some cool caffeine facts. Around 90 percent of Americans have caffeine each day. Caffeine is white and powdery in its pure form. Cafeine will make you pee more( increased urine production) if you have some of it. Caffeine binds to your brain receptors in the same way drugs like cocaine and heroin do. Caffeine looks like adenosine in your brain. This is why one’s brain receptors accept it as adenosine. Caffeine closes down blood vessels that adenosine usually keeps open which is why it can be found in some headache medicines. Caffeine is addictive . Drinks like Red Bull have around 80 milligrams of caffeine in them. Caffeine causes your body to release adrenaline because your pituitary gland thinks something crazy is happening. So after one drinks coffee one’s blood pressure goes up and heart rate increases.
Sources: http://www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Caffeine can be habit forming so a sudden decrease in caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, irritability and nervousness.
Strangely, the exact relationship between caffeine and depression aren’t clear. But people who are more sensitive to caffeine may find that it worsens existing depression. The lack of sleep associated with too much caffeine can also worsen depression.
Caffeine seems to have an effect on blood sugar, especially on people with diabetics. Fluctuations in blood sugar could also be connected with
mood changes.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine-and-depression/AN01700
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Nice post. Here are some cool caffeine facts. Around 90 percent of Americans have caffeine each day. Caffeine is white and powdery in its pure form. Caffeine will increase your urine production if you have some of it. Caffeine binds to your brain receptors in the same way drugs like cocaine and heroin do. Caffeine looks like adenosine in your brain which allows brain receptors to accept it as adenosine. Caffeine closes down blood vessels that adenosine usually keeps open which is why it can be found in some headache medicines. Caffeine is a drug and it is addictive. Drinks like Red Bull have around 80 milligrams of caffeine in them. Caffeine causes your body to release adrenaline because your pituitary gland thinks something crazy is happening due to the rapid binding of caffeine to your adenosine receptors. So after you drink coffee your blood pressure goes up and your heart rate increases. It is recommended that teenagers have around 100 milligrams of caffeine each day if they are going to have any.
Sources: http://www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/caffeine.html