College students in today’s time have become dependent on
caffeine to perform at their best in multiple facets of their hectic lifestyle
including societies, clubs, classes, and internships.
India Today Web Desk | New Delhi | July 22, 2019
In college campuses nationally and internationally,
caffeine is a major part of students’ lives.
You may have woken up in the morning to experience
grogginess and a sense of disorientation and turn to a morning cup of coffee to
clear the mental cobwebs. Once you feel awake and ready to go for the day, you
proceed on your normal schedule. But, after a few hours of sitting in lecture
halls, the day is only half over and you feel as if your eyelids weigh 300
pounds, time for another cup of coffee or your favorite energy drink.
Coffee
in our daily life
Consuming caffeine is a ritual for many and is a common
morning routine in society. It can be a tool to give you that extra boost when
pulling an all-nighter to finish an assignment or the perfect accompaniment for
an important meeting.
Coffee
and college life
Coffee is a quick fix for a college student’s lack of time.
In college campuses nationally and internationally, caffeine is a major part of
students’ lives. With all of the dates, deadlines, and commitments that
students need to meet; it has become an essential part of the collegiate
lifestyle.
The stimulant, which is known for its energy-inducing
properties, has become a crutch for students struggling to stay awake and a
saving grace for those trying to beat the clock and stay ahead of the game.
College students in today’s time have become dependent on
caffeine to perform at their best in multiple facets of their hectic lifestyle
including societies, clubs, classes, and internships. Major situations in which
students consume caffeinated products include when they did not get enough
sleep the night before, before driving long distances, and before studying for
an exam.
Coffee
breaks before exams
Caffeine consumption is prevalent among college students
when under stress and with the influence of social situations. Between exams,
homework, and socializing, students have an increasing demand for caffeinated
products. Energy drinks, coffee, tea, and soda can be seen in students’ hands
as they go to class, hang out downtown, or head out for the night. Caffeine increases
energy, alertness, attentiveness, and sociability for its users. College
students today have a higher need for these types of benefits as they attempt
to juggle classes, sports, work, and social life.
Harmful
effects of caffeine
Ingesting too much caffeine will interfere with a good
night of sleep, which is likely to cause chronic symptoms of fatigue, memory
loss and an inability to focus. Large intakes of caffeine will also cause your
body to become accustomed to it, like any other drug, and more and more
adenosine will be produced to combat the high levels of caffeine in your
system.
As a result, the beneficial feeling of alertness will
deteriorate and your body will become dependent on caffeine to function at a
normal level. Large doses can also lead to a troubled intestinal system and
heart problems.
The consumption of caffeine and its impact on sleep, and
subsequently learning, may be more detrimental to college students’ academic
success than the perceived benefits.
Caffeine has also been associated with mood disturbances
and increased anxiety and stress among college students. Many studies have
shown that people who consume caffeine regularly have higher rates of kidney
and bladder cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, pancreatic cancer. Caffeinated
drinks also increase urine output and boost blood pressure, but this effect is
temporary.
Caffeine has also been linked to loss of calcium, though
the effect is very small and short-term. In a small minority of people, doses
of 300 milligrams or more may prompt an increase in tension, anxiety, and even
panic attacks.
Coffee
addiction!
Most short-term disadvantages to drinking caffeine are
classified as withdrawal symptoms, as caffeine is considered a drug. According
to an article published in the National Geographic, a day or so without
caffeine can cause headaches, irritability, a lack of energy, and sleepiness.
Benefits
of having a coffee
In contrast to the many perceived disadvantages of
consuming caffeine, there are also many advantages, which may explain why so
many people consume the drug daily. For most healthy adults, consuming moderate
doses of caffeine, or about 200 to 300 milligrams a day, equal to about two to
four cups of brewed coffee, is not harmful.
Studies have shown it can help relieve pain, thwart
migraine headaches, reduce asthma symptoms, and elevate mood. As a mental
stimulant, caffeine increases alertness, cognition, and reaction speed.
Although caffeine can contribute to dehydration, recent studies show that it is
not dehydrating in moderate amounts, even in athletes. Caffeine reduces
fatigue, therefore improving performance-based tasks like driving, homework,
and playing sports.
Beware
of caffeine
Therefore, caffeine may not be addictive, but the body
certainly approves of it. As per WebMD, it takes five to six hours for the body
to eliminate about half the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Caffeine is also found
in drinks besides coffee. These include sodas, tea, and energy drinks. College
students may now want to be more prudent in their caffeine consumption after
learning the positive and negative effects of caffeine. Starbucks and those
other caffeinated products may taste good, and help in getting through the day
but they should be drunk in moderation.
(Written
by Soumya Goyal)
Source
: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/caffeine-college-students-a-harmful-relationship-2019-07-22
