Occasionally, however, medical conditions or lifestyle changes call for ending our dependence on caffeine. Show
Do it right, and you can wean yourself from caffeine and barely notice the difference. Do it wrong, and you can end up battling headaches and fatigue that can last a week or longer. What Does Caffeine Do?Caffeine is found naturally in a variety of plants. One of those, coffee, has been cultivated and brewed for many hundreds of years. Tea has likely been brewing much longer. Sodas and energy drinks are more recent methods of conveying caffeine into the body. Another well-loved source of caffeine is chocolate, especially dark chocolate. It’s also in some over-the-counter medications. Once you consume caffeine, it quickly gets into the circulatory system and the brain, stimulating the central nervous system. That’s where you get the jolt. Caffeine drinkers are likely to feel more awake, more aware and more alert. As with most things, you need to use caffeine in moderation. A safe daily dose is about 400 milligrams, or about two to three cups. But a lot depends on the strength of the brew. An 8-ounce cup of Starbucks dark roast will have about 200 milligrams of caffeine, while a similar cup of Folgers may have half that much. A cup of tea typically has significantly less caffeine than coffee. Is Caffeine Good or Bad?Caffeine is mostly good for you. In addition to the psychoactive benefits from a morning cup or two, studies have shown other surprising benefits. Consuming coffee, specifically, may reduce the risk of gout, a painful form of arthritis that often affects areas near the big toe. Coffee also has been shown to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. That’s encouraging, but sometimes a medical condition can mean giving up or cutting back on caffeine and your beloved morning cup of Joe. High blood pressure that’s difficult to control might be one condition. If you have anxiety or insomnia, you also might be better off giving up caffeine. Gastrointestinal issues, such as acid reflux, are another possible reason to quit or curtail. Pregnant women also might choose to cut back their caffeine to reduce the risk of a miscarriage. So might women who are breastfeeding. Sometimes, people choose to quit simply because they no longer wish to have a dependency on caffeine. Quitting the Right WayGiving up caffeine can be a relatively painless experience, as long as you don’t go cold turkey. The side effects of abruptly halting your caffeine intake can include:
Instead, wean yourself from caffeine. If you drink three cups a day, start reducing your intake, or mix your caffeinated blend with some decaf. Continue reducing the amount of caffeine you’re drinking each day over a couple of weeks. You may notice a slightly foggy-headed feeling, but it shouldn’t be severe. Mild headaches can be treated with over-the-counter remedies. Take it slow, make it gradual and there’s a good chance you’ll avoid the worst symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.  Choose to Stay in TouchSign up to receive the latest health news and trends, wellness & prevention tips, and much more from Orlando Health. A caffeine withdrawal headache can happen if you miss your usual morning cup of coffee or mid-afternoon cup of tea. However, compared to other types of headaches, a caffeine headache can be easy to identify and treat. This article covers the causes of caffeine withdrawal headaches and the other symptoms that can go along with one. You'll also learn how to prevent caffeine withdrawal headaches. Does Caffeine Help Headaches or Make Them Worse? Headache and Other Symptoms of Caffeine WithdrawalYou might get a caffeine withdrawal headache if you regularly drink two or more 6-ounce cups of coffee a day and then skip a cup or drink one later than you usually do. A headache from caffeine withdrawal can happen even if you're late by just a few hours. This type of headache is usually moderately to severely painful. It tends to be located on both sides of the head and gets worse with physical activity. The pain will usually peak after one or two days without caffeine and can last for two to nine days. The amount of caffeine that you consume does not necessarily determine whether or not you'll get a withdrawal headache. Other factors also play a role, such as how your body metabolizes caffeine. Could You Be Allergic to Caffeine? Some people get caffeine withdrawal headaches even though they only consume small amounts of caffeine. Others who regularly drink more caffeine don't get caffeine headaches at all—even when they drink less than usual. Caffeine headaches usually start within 12 to 24 hours of stopping caffeine. They can also come with other symptoms, including:
The amount of caffeine that you usually consume might influence when you will start to feel caffeine withdrawal symptoms. It can also influence how long your symptoms will last. However, research suggests that most people start to feel better from caffeine withdrawal after about a week. What Are the Signs of Caffeine Overdose? What Causes a Caffeine Withdrawal Headache?Caffeine is the most-used drug in the world. In the United States, approximately 90% of adults report drinking caffeinated beverages, like coffee, tea, and soda, every day. Although caffeine is considered a drug, experts do not agree on whether it qualifies as an addictive substance. Research has demonstrated that regular use of caffeine can lead to:
However, caffeine does not fit the commonly accepted definition of an addictive substance. For example, a 2010 study showed that caffeine does not activate the dependence and reward system in the brain. Still, caffeine use disorder is recognized by the medical and psychiatric community. In 2013, caffeine use disorder was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (the DSM-5) under the broader category of substance use disorders. Does Coffee Lower Your Risk of a Stroke? Research suggests that about half of people who consume more than 200 mg of caffeine a day will get a withdrawal headache if they abruptly stop. It's not clear why other people do not get symptoms when they reduce their caffeine intake, but it might have to do with individual caffeine sensitivity. That could also explain why a person who is more sensitive to caffeine might get withdrawal symptoms even if they only regularly consume about 100 mg of caffeine a day. Timing and other lifestyle factors can also influence caffeine withdrawal symptoms. For example, a person who only drinks coffee during the workweek may get caffeine headaches over the weekend when they have paused their intake. If a person needs to stop eating before a medical test or procedure they might get a fasting headache, which is sometimes attributed to caffeine withdrawal. Is Caffeine Good For You? Sources of CaffeineWhile coffee is one of the most popular caffeine beverages, there are many other sources of caffeine that are natural and manufactured. Common dietary and supplemental sources of caffeine include:
When to Stop Drinking Caffeine Before Bed Researchers also think that OTC and prescription drugs that have caffeine in them, such as Excedrin and the headache medications Fioricet and Fiorinal, can lead to "rebound headaches" or "medication overuse headaches." While research has not concluded that caffeine is to blame, withdrawal might play a role in triggering a headache when someone who regularly takes these medications suddenly stops. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), taking larger doses of these medications might be a key factor, but headaches can also occur in people taking smaller doses every day. The common ingredients in most OTC headache medications, such as aspirin and other painkillers, may also contribute to the "rebound effect." How Much Caffeine Is In...Starbucks Tall Latte 12 oz 75 mgStarbucks Grande Latte16 oz150 mgStarbucks Coffee Short8 oz130 mg to 190 mgMcCafe Coffee12 oz110 mgBlack Tea8 oz40 mgGreen Tea8 oz25 mgMountain Dew12 oz54 mgCola12 ozup to 71 mgRed Bull8 oz80 mgHershey's Chocolate Bar1.55 oz9 mgStarbucks Hot Chocolate, grande16 oz25 mgExcedrin Migraine2 pills130 mg How to Tell If You've Had Too Much Caffeine How to Treat a Caffeine Withdrawal HeadacheThe fastest remedy for a caffeine withdrawal headache is to drink a caffeinated beverage. Most people will get relief from a caffeine withdrawal headache within an hour of consuming about 100 mg of caffeine. In a 2017 study of people with migraines, adding a dose of acetaminophen to the caffeine provided even faster relief. While the caffeine content of coffee varies based on the blend and how it's brewed, an 8-ounce cup of regular brewed coffee typically has between 80m to 150 mg of caffeine, though some brews have closer to 250 mg. As with coffee, the caffeine content of tea depends on the blend, the temperature of the water that it was brewed in, and how long it steeps. According to survey data from the USDA, the average 8-ounce cup of hot, brewed, black-leaf tea has about 50 mg of caffeine. If your goal is to cut back or eliminate caffeine from your diet, there are other steps you can take to avoid a caffeine withdrawal headache. How to Get Through Caffeine Withdrawal Don't Stop AbruptlyResearch has found that the most effective way to prevent caffeine withdrawal symptoms is to slowly and gradually reduce your caffeine intake. The amount that you'll need to reduce each day and how long it takes you to completely cut caffeine out of your diet will vary. Most recommendations say to gradually lower your caffeine intake over two to six weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Can Caffeine Make Your Blood Pressure Go Up? OTC Pain RelieversOver-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen can help ease a headache and other symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. Excedrin, a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, can be helpful for headaches caused by caffeine withdrawal. However, this type of medication can also contribute to rebound headaches—especially if they're used for a long time. Are Caffeine Naps Helpful? Drink WaterStaying hydrated can help prevent caffeine withdrawal headaches, particularly for people who get migraines (which can be triggered by dehydration). Focusing on your non-caffeinated fluid intake will also help you adjust to not having coffee, tea, and soda as a regular part of your day. If plain water feels like a boring replacement, experiment with ways to make it more interesting like adding some sliced fruit. Why Dehydration Triggers Headaches SummaryCaffeine can be the ultimate paradox for headaches: while it has been shown to help treat migraines and tension-type headaches, regular caffeine intake has also been linked to chronic migraines and medication overuse headaches. Even if you don't usually get headaches, you might get one if you reduce or stop your usual daily caffeine intake. If the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal become hard for you to manage, consider cutting it out of your diet—or only having it in moderation, at least. Does Caffeine Boost Your Memory? Frequently Asked Questions
|
How to stop drinking caffeine without headaches
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 pauex Inc.
