When it comes to caffeine intake, Dartmouth students are not ones to shy away.
Approximately 60 percent of the Dirt Cowboy Caf's late night crowd consists of Dartmouth students, according to a Dirt Cowboy employee. In addition, nearly 30 percent of their customers throughout the day are also Dartmouth students, he added.
Over at Collis Caf and Lone Pine Tavern, over 26,400 12-ounce cups of caffeinated fountain beverages have been sold since January 1st, as well as countless cups of coffee.
Over the counter medications, such as painkillers and cold medicine also often contain caffeine, Turco said.
But the question of "what's too much?" when it comes to caffeine is not easily answered, according to College Health Service Director John Turco M.D.
"It comes down to being relatively subjective," and depends on an individual's choice and 'baseline' intake of caffeine, Turco said.
"Caffeine is certainly an age-old product that has been used as a stimulant," but used in moderation, it's not that harmful, Turco said.
"Is it super-super dangerous? I don't think it is," though it would be nice to avoid caffeine's unpleasant side effects and the worry about possible withdrawal syndromes, Turco said.
Citing DrKoop.com, Turco noted that too much caffeine could lead to fast heart rate, tremors, depression, nausea and vomiting, restlessness, anxiety and diuresis. Yet a moderate intake of caffeine is not linked to health risks, according to the website.
Withdrawal from caffeine can lead to drowsiness, difficulty in concentration and headaches, the site warns. Those consuming too much caffeine should cut down on caffeine gradually to reduce side effects, according to Turco.
He added that, for college students using caffeine to stay awake, tolerance can come quite easily. The body will require more and more caffeine to produce the same desired effect.
Yet those who do not often consume caffeine, then use it to stay away pulling an all-nighter, can easily get "wired." Turco said. Depending on how much caffeine one regularly drinks, one will have a certain level of tolerance to caffeine, which will effect how strongly the caffeine works on one, Turco said.
Yet sleep deprivation, often the underlying cause of students' caffeine use, can cause physical and psychological problems if done on a regular basis, Turco said.
