Caffeine is the most commonly used drug. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and some medicines. Approximately 80 percent of people worldwide use caffeine on a daily basis, with 90 percent of that being through coffee or tea consumption. Increasingly popular energy drinks, often marketed as dietary supplements, can contain between 50 to more than 500 milligrams of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the amount of caffeine in a soft drink to 71 milligrams per 12-ounce can. The use of caffeine should be limited or eliminated in some instances:
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding – It is possible that caffeine can enter the blood stream of your baby and affect your baby’s breathing and heart rate. The Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggest moderate use of tea and colas and that pregnant and breastfeeding women restrict their daily caffeine intake to no more than the amount found in two 5 ounce cups of coffee.
- Heart Disease – Some studies have shown that regular and decaffeinated coffee raises blood cholesterol levels, but the results of these studies are inconsistent. Blood cholesterol levels do not seem to be affected by tea consumption. Consuming caffeine in moderate amounts can also temporarily increase blood pressure. Caffeine can act as a stimulant and may increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat. Your physician may want you to limit the amount of caffeine in your diet.
- Drug Interactions – Caffeine may produce unwanted effects when consumed in combination with certain prescription and over the counter drugs. The chemical compounds in caffeine can cause fluid loss and can cause muscles to relax. Check with your physician or pharmacist for other prescription and over-the-counter drugs that may have adverse effects when take in combination with a high caffeine intake.
If your physician wants you to limit your caffeine intake, try switching to caffeine free soft drinks, decaffeinated coffee and tea and avoid using medications that contain caffeine. You may want to gradually reduce your intake of caffeine to prevent any caffeine withdrawal symptoms (headache, fatigue or drowsiness) that may occur.
Caffeine is the most commonly used drug. Caffeine can be found in
coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and some medicines.
Approximately 80 percent of people worldwide use caffeine on a
daily basis, with 90 percent of that being through coffee or tea...
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Caffeine is the most commonly used drug. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and some medicines. Approximately 80 percent of people worldwide use caffeine on a daily basis, with 90 percent of that being through coffee or tea consumption. Increasingly popular energy drinks, often marketed as dietary supplements, can contain between 50 to more than 500 milligrams of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the amount of caffeine in a soft drink to 71 milligrams per 12-ounce can. The use of caffeine should be limited or eliminated in some instances:
