As the dread of finals season looms over students, many will have to spend late nights studying, completing assignments, and generally catching up on course material. A preface to the oncoming final exams period is the natural increase in sightings of students consuming coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeinated beverages. While caffeine is a great tool to assist with staying up late and working long hours, the consumption of caffeine in stressful circumstances can do more harm than good.
Many studies have been done on the impact of caffeine consumption, and the commonality is that it should not be consumed when stressed. Caffeine consumption is directly linked to changes in blood vessel function. Dr. John Higgins, chief of cardiology at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, a sports cardiologist, and a professor at McGovern Medical School at UT Health in Houston, took a closer look at how blood vessels in the human body reacted under the influence of caffeine. He studied 44 non-smoking medical students who were in their 20s. As a part of the study, the participants’ blood vessel function was monitored before they consumed any energy drinks and once again after they consumed one 24 oz can of energy drink. The findings showcased that the dilation of blood vessels was weakened afterward. The drink reduced the amount the blood vessel dilates by half. “During exercise or under stress, your arteries have to open up because they need to get blood to the muscles, heart and brain. If there is impairment during exercise or mental stress, it could lead to adverse effects,” stated Dr. Higgins. For this reason, while caffeine can be a great tool used to combat droopy eyes and serve as a motivation to study, it is not meant to be used in situations where blood flow is especially required to the brain.
Another concern regarding the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks is the ingredients. The market for energy drinks has grown significantly over the last few years and is only projected to continue doing so. Currently, new drinks are being put out on the market, adding some health benefits such as vitamins and marketing the products to provide better memory enhancement or concentration. However, the issue this poses is that the ingredients used often exceed the recommended nutritional values. According to Dr. Higgins, these additional ingredients make caffeinated energy drinks more addicting, and according to the research company Statista, one in four people between the ages of 18 to 69 years old consume an energy drink on a daily basis. This is of concern as the possibility of relying on caffeinated energy drinks in times of stress could possibly lead to longer-term frequent use, which possesses adverse health issues.
While it is important to note the harmful consequences of relying on caffeine, there is still a reason why students use it: staying awake to study. However, if students really need something to sustain themselves during the finals season, Dr. Higgins suggests different alternatives. A quick run, stretching, and power napping can also provide a boost of energy and be more effective than any source of caffeine. Lastly, Dr. Higgins also states, “If you are really that tired and coffee isn’t keeping you awake, you should probably go to sleep. You aren’t going to remember anything for the test anyway.”
