Caffeine is the Most Popular Drug in the World

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Caffeine is the most popular drug in the world. It is a stimulant, and stimulants are drugs that boost your alertness. Caffeine is found in soft drinks, coffee, tea, and even chocolate. Caffeine has a unique way of working its way into our bloodstream producing those effects we feel that can fully be activated within 45 minutes. But are the consequences we associate with caffeine really risks or just faulty misconceptions? And with that pending risk factor, the possible solutions we can take to avoid negative consequences.

Chemistry is a science in which the focus is primarily on identifying what substances are made up of and how their properties interact and behave. This is a very broad study so it is broken down into different branches. The specific problem selected corresponds to the biochemistry branch. This is because the effect of drugs and medication on the body applies to this. Caffeine is interesting in that it mimics the neurochemical adenosine but without actually activating it (DiSalvo, 2012). So the feeling we get is not actually caffeine stimulating us. The adenosine receptors are blocked allowing for dopamine and glutamate to stimulate more. However unlike many other stimulants caffeine does not actually increase the dopamine secretion, it raises the transmission by having cells equipped with dopamine in the nucleus and basal ganglia. (Fredholm, n.d.). While caffeine is activating several neural circuits it also makes the pituitary gland secrete hormones; then with this it causes the adrenal glands to produce more adrenalin. With increased adrenalin you feel the effect when experiencing a better attention level and more energy (“The brain from top to bottom”, n.d.).Much of this impact caffeine is exhibiting on our...

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...fee is an alternative for those regular coffee consumers, but obviously those usual effects will not be noticed as they are significantly lessened.

Still caffeine remains much of a mystery. Studies conducted on other animals show inaccuracies as they process caffeine extremely different from humans. And even being, studies on humans are difficult to gage as everyone breaks it down at different rates. Besides, so many people are already caffeine users so trying to figure out what these people would be like without it is challenging. People that would want to ensure no risk should stop caffeine consumption. Nevertheless if caffeine seems like something that you cannot give up as the positive impacts it has on you, just monitor the consumption and do not go to unnecessarily high doses or see if decaffeinated drinks can replace your usual high in caffeine beverages.

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