It is important to note that caffeine is considered as a natural stimulant present in some plants including tea leaves, beans of the coffee plant, kola nut and cocoa beans. It works by postponing drowsiness while at the same time stimulating the central nervous system to provide alertness and ability to concentrate better. This is why many individuals who have hectic workloads typically consume caffeine on a daily basis in order to stay alert and productive while performing their tasks. Today, caffeine is utilized in various foods and beverages.
When an individual decides to eliminate coffee and other similar stimulants from his/her diet, he/she will go through caffeine withdrawal. An indication of caffeine withdrawal is muscle pain or ache. If you want to learn how to properly manage caffeine withdrawal and the associated symptoms, all you have to do is to register for first aid training today.
What are the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?
Caffeine withdrawal occurs once an individual abruptly stops the intake of the usual caffeine products such as teas, sodas and coffee drinks on a regular basis. The symptoms of withdrawal include fatigue, headache, inability to concentrate, nausea, muscle pain and irritability.
The muscle pain typically occurs in the upper body including the neck and shoulders of the individual. In most cases, the symptoms can be experienced within 24 hours after the last intake of soda or coffee. The intake of more caffeine will help reduce the symptoms but if the individual is trying to eliminate the stimulant from the system, the symptoms can be managed by taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The individual can also relax the tense muscles by using a warm compress that is applied over the affected areas.
Possible causes
Always bear in mind that caffeine prevents the brain receptors from dilating the blood vessels that leads to body pain and headaches. When the intake of caffeine is stopped, headaches and muscle pain usually occur and can range from mild pain to deep tissue pain.
What is the impact?
The muscles are responsible for supporting the whole body to allow movement and produce the energy needed by the body. Even though the muscles support the bones and other organs, they are also vital in the metabolism process through the proteins in the blood. Even though caffeine withdrawal is relatively harmless, once the muscles are involved with discomfort or pain, it is difficult for the protein to break down that will cause further weakness and pain.
Prevention
The best way to prevent caffeine withdrawal is to drastically limit the usage. Reducing caffeine abruptly will cause muscle pain and other side effects. It is recommended to steadily limit the use of caffeine in order to avoid shock to the muscles and the central nervous system. If possible, the individual should replace caffeinated beverages with non-caffeinated substitutes.