We have all done it before—trying to pull the greatest “all-nighter” and cramming two weeks’ worth of material into a single night. As we try to juggle academics with extracurriculars such as sports and clubs, we look for various energy sources to keep us going, the most popular being caffeine.
Caffeine has become a staple among high school students, especially for the students of SIS due to their packed schedules and the competitive nature of the school community. With high expectations and many responsibilities to manage, caffeine has become an essential part of a student’s routine. Surveys of students show that caffeine consumption increases significantly depending on exam schedules.
“It has been around four years since I started drinking coffee,” Yoonji Huh (10), self-proclaimed “coffee addict,” said. “I need at least 300 to 400 mg of caffeine daily to stay fully awake and keep up with my current sleep schedule. 100 mg of caffeine doesn’t do much to me anymore. I cannot live without coffee, and I think it has the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness, making it a magical drink for me.”
Despite its necessity, caffeine consumption needs to be carefully monitored. Excessive caffeine intake could degrade our health and expose our bodies to complications, including cardiovascular diseases.
Consuming 400 milligrams of caffeine, equivalent to approximately two energy drinks or four cups of coffee, will increase heart rates and blood pressure. These symptoms notably worsen when the consumption rises to 600 mg of caffeine.
“Due to its effect on the autonomic nervous system, regular caffeine consumption could put otherwise healthy individuals at risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular events,” Nency Kagathara, a researcher in the Department of Internal Medicine at Zydus Medical College and Hospital in India, said. “Increasing awareness of these risks is vital to improve heart health for all.”
It is even more detrimental to adolescents as their bodies are still developing. The general consensus is that adolescents between the ages of 12 to 18 should drink less or around 100 mg of caffeine, or approximately two cups of coffee, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With an average of one to two cups of coffee daily, most SIS students fall within the safe range for caffeine consumption, but these numbers significantly rise during exam weeks.
When multiple summatives hoard our weeks, maintaining energy and stamina through after-school activities and school work can become extremely grueling. Without caffeine, productive studying and reviewing becomes nearly unfeasible.
Caffeine consumption also places a heavy burden on sleep routines. the number of sleepless nights increases as the quantity and intensity of exams surge. With the evenings being the most common time of caffeine consumption, the effects of caffeine can easily spill into our sleep schedule, ruining our circadian cycle. These late nights influence our productivity during the day, especially our ability to concentrate during lectures or exams, resulting in greater workloads and longer nights, fueling a vicious cycle of constant sleep deprivation.
Countless students rely on caffeinated beverages to cope with the demanding workload expected from school and extracurricular activities. Despite the importance of success, maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes priority. Quality sleep may benefit your academic performance more than a late-night cram.
