Coffee Drinkers Take More Steps, But Get Less Sleep

 

Previously research has long debated the positive and negative results of caffeine. New research found that coffee drinkers tend to take more steps (1,000 extra steps) and get less sleep (lost out on about 36 minutes of sleep) than individuals who do not drink coffee on a daily basis.

Dr. Gregory Marcus, a professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, also found that coffee could affect the heart as well. On days where participants consumed more than one cup of coffee per day, they were 50% more likely to have an incidence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which are extra heartbeats that start in one of the heart’s two lower pumping chambers, also known as the ventricles, prompting more energy and thus, an easier effort associated with additional steps. This is possibly related to the participant’s “genetic propensities” and how quickly they were able to metabolize or absorb the caffeine.

However, too much caffeine can be concerning for those who have an existing heart condition or problem because the stimulant effects of high caffeine consumption can make your heart beat even faster.

Dr. Hal Skopicki, Chief of Cardiology and Co-Director of the Stony Brook Heart Institute, noted that caffeine can boost energy, as well as endurance and muscle contraction, which is a potential explanation for why the participants in the study who consumed coffee had more steps in a day compared to those who did not consume any at all. He adds coffee can also reduce a person’s perception of how much effort they are truly exerting when they are exercising. 

“Although I am not advocating it, many athletes consume caffeine to improve their exercise tolerance,” he said. “Caffeine also enhances the use of fat as fuel during exercise, which may be beneficial for endurance athletes. By sparing the body using its storage sugar, glycogen, athletes may maintain their energy level for longer periods of time and delay the onset of fatigue.” 

Dr. Marcus explained that while they do not know the exact reasons why people took more steps when exposed to coffee, previous research suggests caffeine may boost physical performance making exercise easier after coffee consumption.

“There is also an activating effect of caffeine on the central nervous system, which may have contributed to greater motivation to engage in physical activity,” he added.

On the other hand, one potential reason why coffee may impact someone’s ability to sleep is that caffeine gets quickly absorbed throughout the body, including the brain. This allows people to feel more alert and awake, Wahaj Aman, an interventional cardiologist with UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann in Texas, said.

Dr. Aman explained that once caffeine is absorbed by the body, it can block adenosine receptors, which are sleep-promoting chemicals that are produced in the brain when we are awake. The longer we are awake, the more adenosine builds up and the sleepier we can become. However, when caffeine is consumed, it can block this process and disrupt overall sleep.

The Food and Drug Administration says that up to 400 milligrams a day—about four to five cups of coffee—is safe for healthy adults. The administration says this amount is not generally associated with dangerous or negative effects. However, how much coffee you consume will depend on your lifestyle, health conditions, sensitivity and reactions to caffeine along with how fast you can metabolize it or break it down

For example, people who struggle with insomnia or have other sleep disorders may benefit from cutting back on coffee consumption or cutting coffee out altogether. On the flip side, if you do not normally have any sleep issues but tend to be more sedentary, consuming coffee may give you more energy and potentially boost physical activity.