High doses of caffeine provoke attacks of panic attacks
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Caffeine is a strong psychoactive compound, in large doses it can even lead to premature death. Only 1/16 of a teaspoon of caffeine is good energy, but already 1/4 - leads to rapid heart rate, sweating, anxiety. As statistics show, every twentieth adult has a state of anxiety. Doctors do not exclude that the use of tea, coffee, energy, etc. Has to do with this directly.
The molecule of caffeine is rather small and reaches the brain in 20 minutes, easily overcoming the blood-brain barrier, this makes caffeine so special. Immediately after entering the brain, a molecule of caffeine prevents the absorption of the adenosine nucleoside, which transmits a signal about a drowsy condition. To all, caffeine increases the activity of the central nervous system and slightly increases the pressure.
At the same time, studies show that consuming a large amount of coffee and other caffeinated beverages provokes anxiety in almost everyone. John Greden of the University of Michigan in his work pointed out that elevated doses of caffeine cause the same symptoms as anxious neuroses. In his study, the scientist analyzed the condition of a nurse complaining of dizziness, headaches, dyspnea, apathy, palpitation, anxiety. As it turned out, such symptoms provoked coffee. On average, a woman drank about 12 cups of strong black coffee a day. After the women stopped drinking coffee, all the symptoms disappeared.
Also, according to the scientist, there is a hereditary predisposition to mental abnormalities, which causes caffeine, in particular, panic attacks and acute anxiety. Some people can fall asleep even after a few cups of coffee, while other people can stay awake for several hours after just one cup of coffee, experts say, all due to the difference in adenosine receptors.
The fact that caffeine provokes panic attacks was proved in an experimental way. All volunteers were divided into three groups:
- Healthy people who in the past did not suffer from attacks of panic attacks;
- People who have had psychiatric disorders in the past;
- People who had relatives of the first line with panic disorders, but they themselves did not suffer from it.
The subjects were given decaffeinated coffee, then coffee with increased doses of caffeine. After decaffeinated coffee, people did not have feelings of heightened anxiety and panic attacks, but after consuming high doses of caffeine, 52% of participants developed a panic disorder. Also, 41% of people whose relatives suffered from anxiety attacks were subjected to mental disorders, although before that, they had no such symptoms. This experiment confirms that anxiety attacks have a hereditary relationship, and caffeine is capable of provoking such a disorder.
Also, scientists from Australia studied the interaction of caffeine and stress. As it turned out, a strong mental shock with high doses of caffeine can lead to hallucinations.
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