Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, prized for boosting alertness, concentration and even mood, and studies have linked it to possible health benefits such as lower risk of type 2 diabetes and support for heart and brain health. But experts say caffeine does not affect everyone the same way. Dr. Suj, a family doctor and emergency physician in Britain’s National Health Service, said there are three main signs that coffee may be doing more harm than good.
In a video posted on social media, he urged people who experience one or more of these symptoms to cut back sharply on coffee, and in some cases stop completely: trouble falling asleep or poor-quality sleep, anxiety or increased irritability and tension, and a strong heartbeat or palpitations. “Please reduce the amount of coffee you drink. Ideally, stop it completely if you suffer from these symptoms,” he said.
Dr. Suj said one major problem is that many people do not realize how long caffeine remains in the body. “Coffee has a long half-life, and it stays in the system much longer than people think,” he explained. “That means your morning coffee may still be affecting you when you are trying to fall asleep at night.” Even when sleep comes, its quality may suffer, creating a cycle of fatigue that leads to more coffee the next day.
He stressed there is no need for alarm for most people, and said four to five cups of coffee or tea a day is generally considered safe. But caffeine is not limited to coffee, it is also found in tea and green tea, energy drinks, cola and some carbonated drinks, chocolate, and certain supplements. Anyone experiencing anxiety, palpitations or sleep problems should look at all sources of caffeine in their diet, not just coffee.
