Studies of caffeine show that it does not increase the risk of death, but it causes a habit or possibly a dependence that the American Psychiatric Association now lists in its diagnosis manual as a disorder that warrants more study.
Scientists study caffeine and its use by humans a lot, some say more than any other psychoactive substance in the world. Caffeine is the most widely used drug, and more scientists are saying now there should be yet more studies into dependence and other aspects of caffeine consumption.
What is the chemistry of coffee? Caffeine is the most famous chemical compound in coffee, but roasted coffee beans contain more than 1,000 other compounds. Some of these chemicals are noxious but still are not unhealthy because they are present in such low amounts.
You never hear anybody wake up and say, “I need a big dose of putrescine and dimethyl disulfide in my morning cup.”
Three thousand five hundred calories in one meal. Maybe you’re so tired after all that turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce and pie because it’s a big job just lifting the fork to your mouth so many times and chewing all that food.
Or maybe, just maybe, it’s those celebratory beers, cocktails or glasses of vino.
Even though the practice of making internist doctors work 24 to 48 hours has been discontinued in recent years, some doctors and nurses still work long shifts.—up to 16 hours. That’s bad for them, and studies have shown it can affect patient care too. Long hours mean more errors, studies show.
We wanted to know how to stay awake on long overnight drives. Who would know better than a truck driver?
First we should say that experts on sleep say you should not be driving from midnight to 6 a.m., when you are more likely to become drowsy. Drowsiness is a major cause of automobile accidents.