Uncovering the hype of the caffeine myth
With a schedule full of tests, study groups and homework assignments, chances are good that most students at Utah State University have considered using caffeine to stay awake and get everything done.
Numerous items including caffeinated soft drinks, energy drinks, caffienated breath mints and gum and over-the-counter caffeine pills are available to give the rush needed to accomplish tasks, but at what risk?
Caffeine is defined as “the most commonly used mind-altering drug in the world,” according to www.encyclopedia.com.
There are both positive and negative effects found in caffeine use. Red Bull, a brand of caffeinated energy drink, says on the company’s advertisements that Red Bull can increase physical endurance, improve reaction speed and alertness, stimulate metabolism and increase stamina. The advertisement directs use of the drink for when a long day ends and a long night starts, before athletic events, and on long, sleep-inducing motorways and before tests and exams.
Jim Davis, director of student health at USU, disagrees.
He said college students have misconceptions in their expectations for caffeine. He said he sees most students using the drug to stay awake at night to study or to stay awake the next day after staying up all night to study and “it just doesn’t work that way.”
Students should not use caffeine right before tests.
Davis said a psychological study conducted with 12 large groups showed that caffeine actually inhibits recall. Groups with either zero, two or four milligrams of caffeine in their systems were given a basic word list to memorize and those with more caffeine recalled fewer of the words.
Caffeine is also known to be associated with the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and it also magnifies and enhances the effects of stress.
A clinical term called caffeinism is used to diagnose people with excessive consumption of the drug, Davis said. Other symptoms of caffeinism are increased heart rate and blood pressure, shakiness, trouble sleeping and ulcers.
“Nobody comes in saying, ‘I think I’m drinking too much caffeine’,” Davis said, but these symptoms help doctors like Davis to diagnose excessive caffeine use.
He doesn’t feel caffeinism is a significant problem on campus, because there are many other health issues, but he did treat one student last year for a stroke related to caffeinated diet pill use.
“One stroke in a young student is too many,” he said.
Students at USU seem to have mixed views on caffeine as well. The Hub on the first floor of the Taggart Student Center sells 252 soda products, which include Pepsi and other caffeinated drinks, 7 energy drinks such as Red Bull and 316 cups of coffee per day Mark E. Fishburn, manager of the Hub and Quick Stop, said. Caffe Ibis, also on the first floor, uses approximately 15 to 20 pounds of coffee beans a day.
Some students avoid using caffeine in most situations.
“I never acquired a taste for it [caffeine], but it gets rid of headaches beautifully,” Stacey Bagley, a junior deaf education major, said.
She said she never uses it to study or stay up late and only drinks caffeinated beverages occasionally.
Others use it only in extreme cases.
Kelly Stewart, a senior history major, said, “I never drink caffeine. I’m just so exhausted today I thought I had to,” as she toted a 32 oz. drink on her way to class.
Some students use caffeine on a daily basis.
“I don’t feel the same if I don’t have my daily Dr. Pepper, I guess you can say I’m addicted,” Nick Trujillo, an undeclared freshman, said.
Davis emphasized that students should disregard erroneous information about caffeine. It can not boost self-esteem or sensitivity to touch, as many believe. It will also not make people sober after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
“For the layperson to think [caffeine] is all good with no bad effects is wrong,” Davis said.