Caffeine helps elevate our mood by providing us with a temporary energy boost. Highly consumed across the world, caffeine is predominantly found in tea, coffee, energy drinks and chocolate. Coffee became a popular drink during the 17th century, around the time of the Boston Tea Party. Many tea drinkers made the switch to coffee when it rose in popularity.
A mild stimulant of the central nervous system, caffeine intake can affect you in similar ways to cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. Consuming caffeine too often has the potential to cause restlessness and insomnia – but for many people, consuming caffeine isn’t an option at all.
People with caffeine sensitivity often experience a racing heartbeat and shakes. Symptoms of sensitivity can be concerning and experiencing side effects of caffeine drive people to cut out the well-known stimulant all together. To find out more information about the signs of caffeine intolerance, continue reading.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is an alkaloid compound that can be found in tea and coffee plants. Used recreationally, caffeine increases alertness and provides you with a short-term adrenaline boost. Caffeine is safe if taken in small amounts, proving to be beneficial by making you feel more focused.
High levels of caffeine can cause serious health issues and should be drunk in moderation. Although caffeine isn’t the safest to consume repeatedly, it’s safer for adults and shouldn’t be offered to children. When taken in large doses, caffeine can cause headaches, anxiety disorders, chest pain and even death.
Roughly 400 milligrams of caffeine is considered a safe amount for a healthy adult to consume each day. Caffeine levels often peak around an hour after consumption, maintaining in your bloodstream for anywhere up to 10 hours. Apart from tea and coffee, you can expect to find caffeine in energy drinks and a wide range of supplements.
It’s common for people to develop a dependency on caffeine, especially if they’re drinking it every day in large quantities. Becoming reliant on caffeine occurs when chemical changes take place in your brain – you can build a tolerance for caffeine just the same as you would for alcohol or drugs.
Noticing the Signs of Caffeine Intolerance and Allergy
The signs of caffeine intolerance and allergy differ. Although both present similar symptoms, having an intolerance is different to having a caffeine allergy. Experiencing symptoms of intolerance and allergy can be scary, especially if it’s your first time consuming something with caffeine in it.
It’s safe to drink around four cups of coffee per day, but if you’re experiencing frequent headaches, feelings of anxiousness or struggling to sleep, you could be sensitive to caffeine. Although these symptoms are common with all caffeine drinkers, they tend to occur more regularly with those that have an intolerance.
We’re all aware of the buzz that we get shortly after consuming something containing caffeine. For many of us, it’s as simple as feeling more alert or having an increase in energy levels. If you’re intolerant to caffeine, you could begin to feel unwell, often resulting in needing to use the lavatory. There is a multitude of reasons that cause caffeine intolerance, and noticing the signs early is important.
Medication can be a significant factor to consider when you’re trying to work out why you’re intolerant to caffeine. There’s a wide range of antidepressants that cause delays in the clearance of caffeine to the body – this could result in people on medication drinking more caffeine than necessary to get a hit. It’s always best to speak to a doctor if you’re concerned about how medication could affect you.
According to research, your genetic build-up can impact how your body reacts to caffeine. Caffeine is cleared by CYP1A2, an enzyme found in your liver. Different genes often dictate how well your body reacts to caffeine and whether you’re able to clear it out of your system faster or slower.
Caffeine sensitivity is ultimately the reaction of adrenaline in your system, whereas an allergic reaction is a histamine response. Gender, weight and age play huge factors when it comes to having an intolerance. In comparison to an intolerance, allergies manifest differently – itchy skin, swelling of the tongue and hives are all indicators that an allergic reaction is happening.
Combating a Caffeine Intolerance
If you’re allergic to caffeine, it’s best to stay clear of it completely. Continuing to consume caffeine products could result in long-term health issues, which can be incredibly dangerous. Although an intolerance to caffeine has the potential to cause ongoing issues, it could just be a case of cutting down your intake and trying alternatives.
Tea, coffee, energy drinks and pre-workout powders are among the list of widely used caffeine products. It can seem hard at first having to cut much loved products out of your life, but there are plenty of alternatives on the market today.
A great first step to take in cutting down on caffeine is to try decaffeinated products and herbal teas instead. Decaf coffee is roughly around 95% caffeine free and tastes just as good. Dedicating some extra time in the supermarket could be beneficial if you’re suffering from intolerance – checking labels and purchasing products with the lowest amount of caffeine will work in your favour.
The bottom line is that each of us reacts differently to caffeine. You might have a high tolerance for caffeine products, or be extremely sensitive. Regardless of having an intolerance or not, it’s important to find what works for you – maybe one cup a day is enough for you to handle before symptoms of intolerance occur.
How DAM Health can Help with Caffeine Intolerance and Allergies
DAM Health provides you with GPs on demand. We offer instant access to healthcare professionals, without the hassle of queuing or waiting lists. From the comfort of your own home, you’ll be able to discuss your issues with an experienced GP.
It can be stressful having to wait for an appointment at your local GP or hospital, which is why our service is so beneficial. Dealing with an array of health problems including fertility, menopause and gut health to name a few, we work tirelessly to help both men and women find out if they have any medical issues.
If you believe that you have a caffeine intolerance or allergy and want to seek urgent advice, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.