Are You Caffeine Poisoning Yourself?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 11:41

If your body weight is about 60 kilos and you drink around 85 average cups of coffee, you could end up in the morgue next morning! You ask any layman and he will tell you that caffeine is a stimulant you find in beverages like coffee but did you know that caffeine in high amounts can be toxic? There is a medical condition for caffeine overdose; it is called Caffeine Poisoning. This condition has very serious consequences and can even lead to death!

Why Is Caffeine Poisonous?
Have you ever wondered why a glass of a caffeinated drink cheers you up? Why you wake up from a lazy stupor when you drink a cup of hot steaming coffee? This is because caffeine is a stimulant. But so is Ecstasy which is a banned narcotic drug. Caffeine is legal because it is acceptable in small regulated amount and its threshold level for causing damage is much higher. It is chemically no better than any other drug. Like all other stimulants caffeine too has negative effects. So just like people die of drug overdose they can die of caffeine overdose.

How Can Caffeine Poisoning Happen?
Now it not casually that a person drinks 85 cups of coffee unless they are borderline lunatics. So why worry about caffeine overdose when it is very unlikely to happen? You need worry because coffee is only one of the common drinks that contains caffeine. It can be found naturally occurring in plants, food and even some medical drugs sold over the counter. The negative effects of caffeine could be trafficked to you from any of these sources. You need to read the contents of the packaged food or medicines to take to know the exact constitution.

How To Detect Caffeine Poisoning?
The symptoms of this conditions are not specific and thus difficult to detect. However you are likely to have one or more of the following symptoms in varying combinations.

Shaking hands to such an extent that you can't hold things still.
Asphyxiation meaning severe trouble breathing.
Vomiting. You make puke dark coloured liquids.
Palpitation or unnaturally fast heart beats.
Dizziness and hallucinations; you will generally feel that you mind is not clear. This happens because the poison attacks your central nervous system.
Lack of co-ordination in the body parts. This disorientation is again due to the damage to your nerves.
Diarrhea is also a common symptom.
You will has a constant unquenchable sense of thirst and urinate frequently.

When you notice any of these severe signs in yourself or others contact your health care provider immediately. Vomiting is a good way to control caffeine poisoning but it is by no means enough to cure it. You need to clean your stomach extensively by washing. This has to be done by an authorised medical practitioner so it is best to get yourself admitted to the nearest hospital.

Follow some good health tips to stay healthy and safe.