Caffeine fuels sleep deficit
Kara Wilt
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Features
As college courses get more and more time consuming, students are trying to find ways to get more hours out of their day. Many wish they had just a few more hours to complete assignments, study for tests and have a few moments to themselves. Cutting sleep time often seems like the easiest way to have a longer day, even if it robs time away from recharging your mind and body.
The easiest, most inexpensive way students have found for staying awake is caffeine.
"I know that if I have a huge assignment due, all I have to do is brew a good strong cup of joe and I am good to go for at least a few more hours," said senior Travis Rechel.
Although 75 percent of people in the U.S. get their daily intake of caffeine from coffee, it is not the only drug that students, as well as busy people worldwide, consume. Beverages like various colas, hot and iced teas and energy drinks all contain varying amounts of caffeine. Along with the different beverage drinks, there are pills that doctors can prescribe for people who have trouble staying awake, as well as ones that are not exactly recommended by the family physician.
"Caffeine is a drug that interferes with adenosine, a chemical in the body that acts as a natural sleeping pill. It blocks the hypnotic effect of adenosine and keeps our eyes stuck in the open position," said T.R. Reid in his article "Caffeine, It's the World's Most Popular Psychoactive Drug." In a recent study conducted by the University of New Orleans, it was found that four out of every five college students consume caffeine daily.
"Students use the drug to keep up with the rigorous schedule of college life, from maintaining a job to cramming the night before a major exam," said Jill Noren, author of "Caffeine: College Students' Drug of Choice."
Many students do not only use the drug to stay awake when they have an exam or assignment due at 8 a.m., but they tend to also use it in order to just be active during the day, for things like classes and social activities, because of lack of sleep from the previous night.
The easiest, most inexpensive way students have found for staying awake is caffeine.
"I know that if I have a huge assignment due, all I have to do is brew a good strong cup of joe and I am good to go for at least a few more hours," said senior Travis Rechel.
Although 75 percent of people in the U.S. get their daily intake of caffeine from coffee, it is not the only drug that students, as well as busy people worldwide, consume. Beverages like various colas, hot and iced teas and energy drinks all contain varying amounts of caffeine. Along with the different beverage drinks, there are pills that doctors can prescribe for people who have trouble staying awake, as well as ones that are not exactly recommended by the family physician.
"Caffeine is a drug that interferes with adenosine, a chemical in the body that acts as a natural sleeping pill. It blocks the hypnotic effect of adenosine and keeps our eyes stuck in the open position," said T.R. Reid in his article "Caffeine, It's the World's Most Popular Psychoactive Drug." In a recent study conducted by the University of New Orleans, it was found that four out of every five college students consume caffeine daily.
"Students use the drug to keep up with the rigorous schedule of college life, from maintaining a job to cramming the night before a major exam," said Jill Noren, author of "Caffeine: College Students' Drug of Choice."
Many students do not only use the drug to stay awake when they have an exam or assignment due at 8 a.m., but they tend to also use it in order to just be active during the day, for things like classes and social activities, because of lack of sleep from the previous night.
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