Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions (Term Paper Sample)

Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions Name of Student Institutional Affiliation Course Instructor Date Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions Caffeine is an alkaloid compound found in over 60 types of plants. Caffeine has some good as well as grievous effects that come with regular consumption. Caffeine may stimulate the nervous system and help asthma patients but prolonged use causes insomnia, nervousness and irritability and possible conception problems. People should avoid it more since it causes more harm than good. Long term use of caffeine in high quantities has been said to cause nervousness, irritability, restlessness, a high heartbeat rate over time and even muscle tremors. It is a stimulant and therefore individuals with anxiety are discouraged from consumption; this is because of the jittery effect it causes on the body that equals to that of a frightening event. The substance stimulates people’s ‘fight or flight’ response worsening anxiety and can even trigger an anxiety attack. Stress and anxiety cause muscle twitches, also called nervous ticks which often affects the back, arms and legs. In high doses, caffeine consumption leads to the increase of epinephrine levels in the blood; Epinephrine can also be referred to as adrenalin (Panza, et al., 2015). In pure forms, epinephrine enhances the flexibility of the heart, causing it to beat with greater force hence leading to increase in blood pressure due to a high heart rate. That is not even the last of how caffeine affects human health. Fertility problems have also been linked to caffeine consumption along with heart burn, stomach upset and insomnia. Researchers are divided on whether caffeine intake actually affects fertility or not. One lot says that when a couple is trying to conceive a child, high intake of caffeine can hinder conception from taking place since caffeine causes infertility. The other lot is not buying that argument since a clear and direct connection between caffeine consumption and fertility problems has not yet been brought to light. What there is a consensus on is that, it is safe to consume 200 to 300 milligrams of coffee daily, whether one is trying to conceive or not. It is advisable to take coffee (which contains caffeine) during the morning hours and not later in the day since the stimulating effect of coffee lasts for six hours and if taken later in the day, may lead to insomnia. Caffeine triggers inflammation of the stomach lining, causing a heart burn and abdominal pain that accompanies an upset stomach (Carman, et al., 2014). Caffeine is not entirely detrimental because it also has some health benefits. The most obvious benefit caffeine has is that it is a stimulant; it can improve individual functionality and it also opens blocked airways and helps asthmatic people to breathe better. Coffee has been used by people for such a long time because of its stimulation effect. Caffeine activates the central nervous system hence combating tiredness and improving an individual’s concentration and focus. Research done by the University of Michigan Hea...