If you see the number of energy drinks on the market, you may think we, as a nation, are constantly going without sleep. However, it’s important to know why you feel the need, what sources to use, how to avoid an addiction and when to seek medical help.
Why the Need? Many times, energy drinks are used to replace sleep. A student may stay up late studying and choose the beverage to stay awake. When he or she wakes up the next morning (or has to go to class without having any sleep), another might be used to keep sleep at bay longer.
Skipping sleep is one of the most frequent uses for these beverages. They may also be used prior to a workout to boost the metabolism. The caffeine and other ingredients can get heart rate up artificially, and it could provide a slight improvement on metabolism and calorie burning.
A lack of B vitamins can also be a cause for energy boosting. It’s often hard to tell if that’s the problem without a doctor’s visit, particularly if you’re in the habit of skipping sleep.
Source of Energy Boosters: Naturally, the first thing that pops into mind are the ones on store shelves. There are beverages, pills and concentrates of all kinds. Vitamins and other supplements are also touted (and some actually help) in the booster efforts. Choosing the right one may take more thought than most care to give.
Becoming Dependent: If you’ve ever been at a coffee shop early in the morning, you can see what I mean. I’ve watched people shuffle in, some still in pajamas, robe and slippers, to get that first cup of coffee. After they drink it, they are much more animated and sometimes even embarrassed at their mode of attire.
While I don’t think coffee is necessarily an addiction, it is possible to become dependent on it and these other boosters. If you need a cup of coffee before you can function, you may have hit that point.
Am I saying that’s a bad thing? Up to a point, it isn’t. However, there are a couple of instances where this dependence is a bad thing. The first comes from those people who use the boosters to avoid sleep. Studies show that we need an average of seven hours of sleep per night, and skipping it isn’t helping you any.
There are also certain medical conditions that can be aggravated by these drinks. Depression, bipolar disorder and high blood pressure are a few that can be made worse by energy drinks and beverages containing caffeine.
What if it’s a Medical Problem? If you don’t fit the sleep deprived or dependent coffee drinker scenario, you may have a medical reason for feeling sluggish. It is a good idea to see your doctor and find out what it might be. It could be something simple like a vitamin/mineral dependency or it could be something more serious.
As I’ve said, we’ve all had the occasional sluggish days, and many of us need that morning caffeine hit. However, if it is more than that, you may have a serious problem.