Busy people wish they always have caffeine flowing across their body to stay awake as they complete their tasks during the day or night. But a new study just confirmed that can happen. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimated that nearly 80 percent of adults in the U.S. consume caffeine every day. The natural stimulant is known for helping people stay awake and increase alertness. However, in rare cases, too much consumption of caffeine could lead to overdose. It can cause confusion, hallucinations, vomiting and even death due to convulsions, according to Healthline. Caffeine overdose commonly occurs when people take large amounts from energy drinks or diet pills. But researchers recently found that drinking coffee or tea frequently could also send the stimulant straight into the bloodstream. The study, published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, shows that caffeine could stay in the blood. Researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) analyzed 18 batches of “pure human blood serum” from multiple donors. During tests, all samples appeared with caffeine. But the team noted that having caffeine in your bloodstream may not cause serious health problems. "From a 'contamination' standpoint, caffeine is not a big worry for patients, though it may be a commentary on current society," Luying Chen, a Ph.D. student at OSU, said. The researchers also found traces of drugs in the blood samples. They tested positive for anti-anxiety medication, a cough suppressant and a medication for type 2 diabetes, according to mindbodygreen. Researchers hope the study would guide blood banks and other providers in examining donor blood. “Without doing a comprehensive survey of vendors and blood banks we can only speculate on how widespread the problem is," Richard van Breemen, director of OSU's Linus Pauling Institute, said. "Another thing to consider is that we found drugs that we just happened to be looking for ... how many others are in there too that we weren't looking for?" The study was part of an OSU project that aims to understand the interactions between botanical dietary supplements and drugs. Estimates show that 64 percent of the population in the U.S. drink a cup of coffee every day. Pixabay Source
