“One ‘venti’ cup of coffee at Starbuck’s is already too much caffeine for one day, and many of us have two or three a day,” Septimus said.
Those who rely on caffeine to stay awake need to find out why they are having problemssleeping. It could be obstructive sleep apnea, which affects more than 22 millionpeople in the U.S.. This condition, which is an obstruction of the airway, causes people to stop breathing during sleep. Most people wake up from a deep sleep hundredsof times a night, and when they finally get up in the morning, they are exhausted,and head straight for the caffeine drinks to make it through the day.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is becoming an epidemic in this country, and many people are living with it instead of being evaluated and seeing how they can change their sleep patterns,” Septimus said. “This condition has been associated with sudden cardiac death, strokes, and sleep deprivation so it's best to check with a physician sooner than later." Sleep deprivation has been associated with car accidents, and can lead to serious health conditions such as depression, high blood pressure, and memory loss if not properly taken care of.
“Most people don’t realize how much more productive and vibrant they would feel if they could get full night’s rest,” Septimus said. “Masking your bad sleep habits with highenergy caffeine drinks or multiple cups of high priced coffee, while it might provide a short-term spark, will do nothing to cure the underlying problem, and make you feel better in the long run.”
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