Higher caffeine intake spikes insomnia among youth

VADODARA: Meeting friends over coffee might have become a common trend among college students and young professionals, but the routine is increasingly hampering with sleep cycles. According to experts, the caffeine intake among people in their 20s and early 30s is leading to a rise of insomnia cases in the city.
Experts believe, the city is drinking its way to caffeine addiction.“Insomnia and sleep related disorders are traditionally due to asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer and heartburn. But the point that most of the recent cases of insomnia in the city have in common is caffeine intake,” said city-based psychiatrist Dr Jatin Shah.
He said that the trend as a part of which people have switched to coffee is more of lifestyle choice than taste. “We know that caffeine keeps us alert, so it is being increasingly gulped down to ensure that we are alert throughout the day in the competitive work spaces,” he said.
However, doctors are concerned with the fact that many of the coffee-drinkers are intentionally consuming the drink in order to work longer and achieve the ‘targets’.
Dr Jatin added, “Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle has brought with it the easy to use coffee machines and ‘take-away’ cups. The coffee that is still made at our homes does not contain enough caffeine to harm us. But now we are having properly caffeinated cups at coffee shops.”
“If we talk about Vadodara, we traditionally are not coffee-drinkers. The increase that we see has a lot to do with being ‘cool’ and hanging out at coffee places,” said head of department of psychiatry at GMERS General Hospital, Gotri, Dr Sandip Shah.
A disturbed sleep pattern causes stress which in–turn is a reason of insomnia. Most patients are stuck in this cycle, doctors say, and would age to become unhealthier.
“Adequate sleep of about eight hours daily is very important for a healthy life. Once the sleep pattern is disrupted, the person will develop anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration and even depression. Eating disorders, reduced memory and heart problems can also develop due to insomnia,” said Sandip.