Caffeine addiction makes brain rely on 'unhealthy' stress relief

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by Change | 15 Jan 2010

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An addiction to caffeine causes the brain to rely on unhealthy forms of stress relief, it has been warned.

addiction doctors often warn about the progression of drug abuse, with something as minor as a weekly mocha latte making the body crave a regular fix.

While the vast majority of people will not find themselves in need of addiction support, others will find that these weekly pleasures can escalate into a "daily must-have", NYDailyNews.com reports.

According to the newspaper's Dr Dave Moore, these so-called light addictions effectively train the brain to "rely on unhealthier forms of stress relief".

"Unlike alcohol, pot, pain killers and all the other drugs that substantially alter your mind, caffeine, though an addiction, is not one of the drugs of abuse. The same is true for nicotine," Dr Moore explained.

He went on to highlight a report from the National Institute of Health, which revealed that smokers who quit using tobacco when they stop drinking have a reduced levels of alcohol consumption than individuals who continue to smoke.

There are a number of caffeine addiction symptoms including palpitations, a lack of sleep and irritability.

Experts recommend that one of the best ways of giving up caffeine is to cut back slowly, which minimises the effects of withdrawal symptoms.

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