Ahhhh caffiene!

Hi Hubbers!

First I want to send out my apologies. I have made a goal to try and write once a week, but I recently started working three jobs, one being a graveyard shift. So I was barely sleeping for a while there. But I quit the grave yard shift and am sleeping again! Yay! And I'll be able to write tons of nerdy stuff now! 

But working the graveyard shift did inspire me to write this blog. The only way that I made it through the long hours of late night work was through the amazing help of Rockstar energy drinks. Now, I am not an avid energy drink lover. I like a cup of coffee in the morning and diet cokes but that's about the extent of my caffiene intake. I never really got into energy drinks because they are quite unhealthy and you'll get super addicted to caffeine quickly. However the need to stay awake out weighed this fear.

So, how does caffeine work? How does it make you stay awake through those long hours in the night when you're trying desperately not to nod off? Well, the answer is in the molecular structure of caffeine.

Now look at the rings on both of the molecules. The N's which are in the rings structures are nitrogen molecules. Because of the similarity of the two structures, your body can't always tell the difference which one it is using.

Now, adenosine is a protein which binds to receptors in the brain. When these receptors are bound by the adenosine the nerve impulses of the brain slow down because the receptors are blocked. This causes you to feel tired. When you drink coffee or something like that, the caffeine molecules will bind to the brain receptors first. When this happens then you don't get that drowsy feeling. However, because the brain is not receiving the signals from the adenosine, instead speed up. This is why coffee makes you feel more energized. The brain is sending out even more signals so you move faster.

Now, what normally takes place in your brain is that Adenosine will bind to the neuro receptors in your brain. When it binds it causes a G-protein, a type of signaling protein, to activate. When this happens a lot of other proteins are activated (meaning the protein is signaled to move or change its form a bit) and eventually the signal is given to the neurons to "slow down." This is when you start feeling drowsy. When caffeine is in your system then it will bind to the adenosine receptor instead. When this happens the G protein is not activated and so the neurons are never told to slow down.

Caffeine also is a acts as vasoconstrictor, which means it narrows the blood vessels in your brain. Adenosine is a vasodialator, which means that it will open up your blood vessels to your brain. When the caffeine closes the blood vessels it can also cause relief from headaches. This is why most headache medicine, such as Excedrine, have caffeine added to them. When you have a "vascular" headache (an older and more general term for many types of headaches), then relieving your brain of some blood will lessen the pressure and relieve your headache.

However, while there are many good characteristics of caffeine- alertness, increased concentration, etc etc- it is also very addictive and can be detrimental to your health. Because of how caffeine effects the brain, when you don't have caffeine in your system you will start experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms you can expect are headaches, sleepiness, and the inability to concentrate. The reason you'll get a headache is because when there is not longer any caffeine in your system, your blood cells open up again. When this happens you'll have much more blood flowing to your brain and this will give you a headache.

Now people will argue both the benefits and problems with caffeine consumption. However, like anything its all a matter of moderation. Too much caffeine can cause seriously side affects such as heart palpitations, however a 12 oz cup of coffee can really start the day off right. So fellow bloggers, use your caffeine wisely, but there is no reason to drive Starbucks out of business.