Coffee Negatively Affects Sleep

Want to improve the quality of sleep and enjoy peaceful rest at night? Stop the consumption of caffeinated products, such as coffee and soda (no matter how early you drink them). This is the message of a study that evaluated the effect of caffeine on the efficiency, quality, and duration of sleep. For this study, scientists from the Sleep Disorder and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital and Wayne College of Medicine, Michigan, USA, administered 400 milligrams of caffeine pills to 12 healthy individuals who were asked to maintain their normal sleep habits.

Each subjects took 3 pills for 4 days. Only one of the pills actually contained 400 milligrams of caffeine; the others were placebo. The participants took the first pill 6 hours before bedtime, the second 3 hours before sleep, and the third at bedtime. On one day out of the 4 days, all the pills taken by the participants were placebos.

Sleep parameters, such as sleep duration, efficiency, and quality were measured using position sensors, electroencephalograph (EEG), and oximetry. 

The researchers discovered that caffeine shortened total sleep time, worsened sleep quality, and reduced sleep efficiency. On the other hand, all the participants experienced better sleep quality, duration, and efficiency on the day they took only placebos. The findings of this research work agree with the results of another study published in the Journal of Sleep Reviews. The researchers noted that caffeine enhanced sleep disturbance and promoted daytime sleepiness stating that "The risks to sleep and alertness of regular caffeine use are greatly underestimated by both the general population and physicians".

Specialty coffee sales are currently skyrocketing at a rate of 20% per year. Coffee is the major dietary source of caffeine with over 50% of United States adults consuming coffee daily. Coffees bought in the coffee shops can sometimes contain 500 milligrams of caffeine. Drinking even one cup of strong coffee, at any time during the day, can knock out many minutes of night-time sleep. Avoiding coffee and caffeinated beverages can help to improve our sleep duration, quality, and efficiency. Get the best out of your sleep. Put down that cup of coffee and start enjoying quality night sleep. 

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