Insomnia
After a long day, all anyone wants to do is hit the pillow and drift off into dreamland. But despite being dead tired, you can’t seem to fall asleep. You toss and turn for hours and sleep just won’t come. Finally, in desperation, you get up and have a cup of coffee. And without knowing it, within minutes, you’re wide awake again.
If this sounds familiar, then chances are an individual is experiencing the phenomenon of caffeine-induced insomnia. Normally, as an individual stays awake, adenosine levels continue to rise, making them feel more and more tired. One of the main effects of caffeine is increased alertness and wakefulness. That’s why people often turn to coffee or tea when they need an energy boost.
If caffeine is preventing people from feeling sleepy, then it stands to reason that it would also prevent them from falling asleep in the first place. Caffeine has also been shown to increase the time it takes to fall asleep and decrease the overall quality of sleep, resulting in more awakenings during the night. This adds to less restful sleep and more fatigue during the day.
