We all hear about coffee and tea having caffeine, and that we shouldnt drink them before bed as they are stimulants... but do they really have a big effect on you?
Ok perhaps they may give you a boost for like 10 minutes, but after that is it much again back to zero? I doubt the 'doses' of caffeine in these drinks are really strong.
I always have a cup of tea or some coffee around 1/1.5/2 hours before I go to bed, and often have it when I get home from Uni. Usually what it does is make me feel snug and warm, almost relaxing me instead of stimulating me. But it only lasts for around 10 mins, and I dont see why people make such a fuss.
Please explain the facts! Thanks!
2007-04-22 02:09:41 · 6 answers · asked by ღ♥ღ latoya 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Caffeine triggers dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which activates the "pleasure centers" in certain parts of the brain, and simply makes a person feel good. Another important aspect of caffeine is its structural ability to compete with a chemical called adenosine. Caffeine is a sort of imposter. By this I mean that its chemical structure closely resembles adenosine and therefore binds to adenosine receptors in the brain. Our body uses adenosine to slow down the nerve cell activity and is important to deep sleep. When adenosine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain it causes drowsiness and helps us sleep at night. However, this antagonist known as caffeine competes with these receptor sites due to their similarity in structure. They use up the same receptor sites leaving adenosine with nowhere to bind. The net effect is that it blocks adenosine’s ability to slow the nerve cell activity. Due to all the nerve cell activity going on the pituitary glad releases adrenaline. The adrenaline increases your blood pressure (among other things). Long term use of caffeine can cause your body's organs to work too hard possibly leading to unwanted cardiovascular and neurological effects.
2007-04-22 02:49:24 · answer #1 · answered by Toothie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caffeine will continue to have an effect on the body as long as it remains in the blood. The time required for the body to eliminate one-half of the total amount of caffeine consumed (or caffeine's half-life) varies from several hours to several days, but for the average non-smoking adult it is about 3-4 hours.
How long caffeine's effects last is influenced by the person's hormonal status, whether he/she smokes or takes medications, or has a disease that impairs liver functioning.
2007-04-22 02:24:08 · answer #2 · answered by Niotulove 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caffeine depends on how you drink your coffee.
In the USA the way coffee is served is like tea in many Countries. Very very weak.
In the USA the espresso is stronger.
I some Countries, the espresso thickness is the normal one for them.
And the espresso is unbelievable thick.
Not knowing this when I was in Milan, Italy, during the day I had four delicious, never experimented before espressos.
I couldn't sleep the whole night. I couldn't even go to bed!
That had never happened before, so...
2007-04-22 02:56:11 · answer #3 · answered by Carlos R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am with you, caffeine really does not seem to have an effect on me unless I drink the whole pot! And I am not exaggerating. I do however have a friend that gets jittery after just a cup of coffee. I think it depends on the amount of caffeine you take in on a regular basis.
2007-04-22 02:20:06 · answer #4 · answered by VMSS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caffeine hangs around in your body for about 8 hours.
2007-04-22 02:14:39 · answer #5 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caffeine is definitely a stimulant. However, you build up a tolerance very easily and it has a mild addictive affect, so that when you feel tense it relaxes.
You could reduce your caffeine intake for awhile and see what happens.
2007-04-22 02:23:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋