Caffeinism: Symptoms and Remedies of Caffeine Addiction

Caffeine is a drug permissively and casually used and abused in Western culture. Among business people, teachers, writers, students, and even many children, the consumption of caffeine is an acceptable way to stay awake and alert. Coffee and espresso based beverages are seen as appropriate and elegant. Like alcohol, beverages containing caffeine can be consumed and abused alone or socially.

Like many drugs, caffeine has positive and negative effects. Caffeine quickly relieves tension headaches by constricting the blood vessels. For individuals without medical restrictions, a combination of coffee and ibuprofen can quickly relieve headaches.

Caffeine can also produce headaches. If a regular coffee consumer goes without his or her fix, he or she will likely develop a headache due to caffeine dependency.

Caffeine functions as a stimulant of the central nervous system. For individuals experiencing loss of appetite, caffeine may induce a desire to eat. Considered a psychoactive stimulant, 90% of North American adults consume caffeine daily.

For those willing to kick the caffeine habit, withdrawal symptoms are tough to tolerate. It takes up to five days for the body to recover from caffeine addiction. Immediately, a coffee addict who kicks the habit will notice a need to sleep, headaches, and an upset stomach. These symptoms climax at the second day of caffeine withdrawal.

Stomach acids, eating habits, digestion, and serotonin levels (relating to a person's mood) are all affected by caffeine intake and reduction. The abuse of caffeine can lead to some undesirable personality traits such as anxiety, nervousness, irritability, and a rapid heart beat.

The advent of caffeine pills has led to enhanced addiction and increased intake of caffeine. Though many victims of caffeinism prefer ingesting caffeine via beverages, individuals seeking immediate or extreme effects of caffeine will often resort to pill form. This method, when used repeatedly, is dangerous and addictive.