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Studies have demonstrated that caffeine disrupts sleep. When caffeine is consumed immediately before bedtime or continuously throughout the day, sleep onset may be delayed, total sleep time reduced, normal stages of sleep altered, and the quality of sleep decreased. Because of its ability to cause insomnia, sleep researchers have used caffeine as a challenge agent in order to study insomnia in healthy volunteers. Caffeine’s effects on sleep appear to be determined by a variety of factors including dose, the time between caffeine ingestion and attempted sleep, and individual differences in sensitivity and/or tolerance to caffeine. The effects of caffeine on sleep are dose-dependent with higher doses showing greater disruption on a number of sleep quality measures. Caffeine administered immediately prior to bedtime or throughout the day has been shown to delay sleep onset, reduce total sleep time, alter the normal stages of sleep, and decrease the reported quality of sleep. There is some evidence to suggest that caffeine taken early in the day also negatively affects nighttime sleep. Caffeine-induced sleep disturbance is greatest among individuals who are not regular caffeine users. Although there is evidence for some tolerance to the sleep disrupting effects of caffeine, complete tolerance may not occur and thus habitual caffeine consumers are still vulnerable to caffeine-induced sleep problems.

Caffeine use can be associated with several distinct psychiatric syndromes: caffeine intoxication, caffeine withdrawal, caffeine dependence, caffeine-induced sleep disorder, and caffeine-induced anxiety disorder. Studies have not proven that caffeine produces significant life-threatening health risks such as cancer, heart disease, and human reproduction abnormalities. Nevertheless, individuals with various conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, primary insomnia, gastroesophageal reflux, pregnancy and urinary incontinence are often advised to reduce or eliminate regular caffeine use. With regard to cardiovascular health, caffeine produces modest increases in blood pressure and studies have established that unfiltered caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee (including espresso and French Press) contain lipids which raise serum cholesterol. In addition, concerns have been raised about a role of caffeine in cardiovascular disease. Finally, studies suggest that there may be an association between high daily caffeine consumption and delayed conception and lower birth weight.

How can you tell if you are suffering from caffeine addiction? Read our signs and symptoms checklist to see if you a coffee addict.
Do you:

consume more than two cups of coffee, tea, cola or chocolate a day? (these all contain caffeine)
feel fatigued on and off during the day?
experience extreme emotional mood swings during the day?
suffer from frequent headaches?
suffer from acidity or heartburn?
suffer from a burning sensation, fatigue and heaviness in the eyes?
suffer from premenstrual syndrome? (for women)
have difficulty falling sleep?
wake up in the morning feeling dead tired?
get irritated easily?
suffer from irregular or rapid heartbeats?
often feel dizzy?
have high blood pressure problems apart from anxiety problems?
have problems concentrating without your regular cup of coffee?
find your hands trembling?
feel dehydrated?

If you answered 'yes' to even some of the above you may have been abusing caffeine - or perhaps I should say 'it has been abusing you' !

Don't get me wrong - many of us use caffeine to little ill effect. Coffee is great in the same way as sunbathing - in moderation!

Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world and it's no coincidence that its use has increased alongside longer working hours. For most healthy adults 200-300 milligrams a day (about two cups of coffee) is fine .

But too much caffeine (three cups of strong coffee or more) can lead to insomnia, anxiety osteoporosis, diabetes, ulcers, PMS, stroke, heart disease and may be linked to certain types of cancer.

Overcoming Caffeine Addiction will help wean you off the caffeine habit slowly and steadily. If you have had a chronic problem with caffeine addiction, the help of a dietician will also be invaluable.

As with any drug, you may experience withdrawal symptoms as you cut down, so it is important to cut back gradually. If in doubt consult a doctor or nutritionist.

Overcome Caffeine Addiction will enable you to do all the things you used to feel couldn't be done without coffee - such as taking a break or getting down to work. When your unconscious mind gets the message that your body really doesn't need - or want - another cup of coffee, then you'll find it easy to cut down or even to stop entirely.

And last but not least,
Overcome caffeine addiction will focus on freeing you from the viscious cycle of excess caffeine and give you the sense that you can take or leave it.

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