Explain this one ... caffeine craving ...

March 7, 2004

Gotta have that Coke Cola or coffee. My whole family is this way. We gotta

have our tea, coffee or cola soda. Otherwise I feel like I will die!

March 8, 2004

> Gotta have that Coke Cola or coffee. My whole family is this way. We gotta

> have our tea, coffee or cola soda. Otherwise I feel like I will die!

Caffeine is addictive. People who consume large amounts of caffeine will

suffer withdrawel symptoms when they cut back.

Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal?

Headache

Fatigue, drowsiness, or loss of energy

Irritability

Anxiety or depression

Nausea and/or vomiting

Decreased ability to concentrate or perform mental tasks

For people with ADD or ADHD, caffeine can also have a calming effect. My

friend had undiagnosed ADD throughout her life. She would always get a

Pepsi before doing her homework. She simply could not concentrate on her

tasks without it. It helped her focus and calm down. Her mother kept

insisting that the Pepsi should be a reward for completing her homework and

would take the can away from her until she finished. This was a constant

battle and most often she would sneak the Pepsi and finish her homework, or

would try to arrange to get the Pepsi and do her homework when her mother

wasn't around.

She's now grown up with 5 kids. The oldest child was diagnosed with ADD and

when the daughter was diagnosed, so was my friend, and her father as well.

The doctor explained to them that the caffeine was helping her deal with her

symptoms all those years. She *knew* it helped, but she didn't know why.

Caffeine also can help people with some types of POTS and Orthostatic

Intolerance (OI). In the case of POTS/OI that results from low blood

pressure and venous pooling, caffeine can increase blood pressure enough to

help prevent fainting and dizzy spells. However, in some cases, the

increased blood pressure makes symptoms worse, and caffeine is to be

avoided. I have OI that reacts very well to caffeine. For years I drank 4

cups of coffee a day and kept my dizziness under control. I've cut back

recently as my blood pressure has come up on its own from my thyroid

treatments.

-Barb

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