The stress of exams often drives students to drink…not alcohol, but caffeine. Monsters, Red Bull, coffee, frappes, tea and sodas can often be found in a student’s hand as they spend hours cramming for their next test of sanity (aka exam).
This sight is a commonplace among college campuses, but this commonplace is affecting more than student’s studying habits. The massive amounts of caffeine consumed by students every day are harming their bodies, minds and exam results.
Creative Writing and Kinesiology major Sara Pendleton explains that drinking caffeine “Was more to stay focus and get things done because if you do use caffeine regularly, it becomes difficult to not use caffeine regularly.”
She explains that she tried every sort of caffeine from coffee to pills to patches, but has cut her caffeine intake drastically because it was negatively affecting her health.
Caffeine is considered a stimulant and can be an addictive substance if not taken properly.
Kathy Saichuk, LSU’s Health Promotion Coordinator explains that consuming massive amounts of caffeine causes a rise in heart rate and blood pressure, dehydration, a nervous or jittery feeling, light-headedness and dizziness, stomach cramps, as well as shortness of breath.
She also states that students don’t consider the effects that caffeine has on their sleeping patterns. Caffeine prevents a person from getting deep sleep, which leads to decreased cognitive function and lower exam scores.
Saichuck also advises that women not drink more than two cups of coffee a day because research shows a strong correlation between caffeine intake and breast cancer.
While students may continue to use caffeine in its various forms so that they can study just one more chapter, there are healthier ways to prepare for your exams.
Saichuk advises students to start studying earlier, get lots of sleep and stay hydrated for the best results when preparing and taking an exam. She also suggests that students check the nutritional labels on their drinks, so that you can make a healthier decision.
These caffeinated drinks can be found all over campus, but before picking up another can of Monster make sure that this caffeine “help” isn’t turning into a caffeine addiction.