Published On 15/12/2025
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Last update: 01:48 (Mecca time)
Caffeine consumption is increasing in various forms among teenagers, seeking greater attention and longer hours of study, especially during exam times. The matter does not stop at ordering an instant coffee drink, or a cup of classic coffee, but it extends beyond the home, where there are many energy drinks, and finally “caffeine bags” that stick to the gums to give the body additional doses of stimulation, in addition to those it receives regularly, which exposes many to many health risks that may lead to sudden stopping of the heart muscle.
It’s not just coffee
While the maximum allowable amount of caffeine for teenagers is 100 mg per day, bodies hungry for energy and concentration receive larger daily amounts of this drug. According to the Cleveland Clinic, caffeine is a type of stimulant drug that increases chemicals in the brain and stimulates the central nervous system, thus increasing alertness, concentration, and activity.
Thus, consuming caffeine has become an essential ritual of studying, along with many drinks and sweets that contain the same substance (caffeine) in different quantities, most notably:
- Regular coffee: one cup of 240 ml contains 95 mg of caffeine.
- Instant coffee, one cup of which contains about 60 mg of caffeine.
- Espresso, each “squeeze” contains 65 mg of caffeine.
- Black tea, one cup of which contains 47 mg of caffeine.
- Green tea, contains 28 mg of caffeine.
- Dark soda, regular or diet cola, contains 40 to 55 mg of caffeine.
- Chocolate, one piece of which weighs 28 grams – about two small cubes – contains about 24 mg of caffeine.
- Cups of hot or cold cocoa contain a caffeine content that may reach 25 mg in the case of raw cocoa and about 10 mg if using diluted sweetened cocoa.
- Energy drinks contain about 170 mg in one package and about 200 mg in high-concentration packages.
- Caffeine sachets are placed between the lip and gums so that the body absorbs caffeine through the oral membrane. The content of one sachet is about 25 to 200 mg of caffeine.
- Some types of painkillers.
- Some energy (protein) bars.
- Some types of gum
Scary health problems
It is not the first caffeine sachet trend, and it will not be the last. Although a little caffeine can help to feel more alert and focused, the effect of quick caffeine seems to be greater on the bodies of children and teenagers because they are still in the various stages of development, so their nervous systems, hearts, and blood vessels are affected in a way that may not be expected, especially during exam times, when tension and nervous pressure increase.
There is a direct relationship that leads to the consumption of large amounts of caffeine in its various forms throughout the day, and it also causes many health problems in the short term, most notably:
- Irritability.
- Increased anxiety.
- restlessness.
- Digestive problems, reflux, and increased acidity.
- Heartburn.
- Sleep disorders.
- High blood pressure.
- Heart palpitations and increased heart rate
But what is more dangerous is that very high doses of caffeine can be toxic.
In his clinic in Cairo, Dr. Mohamed Al-Essawi, a general cardiology and internal medicine physician, receives quite a few cases of teenagers suffering from complications of caffeine addiction.
He told Al Jazeera Net, “Unfortunately, high levels of caffeine lead to an increase in heart rate that coincides with the nervous pressures that the student faces at this time, which increases the chances of an electrical malfunction in the heart, and this is a very dangerous matter, leading in many cases to death.”
Al-Issawi adds, “Teenagers often come to the clinic suffering from an elevated heart rate or a serious electrical defect. The problem increases if the teenager is a smoker, or if the timing is related to nervous stress, such as during exam times.”
Among the complications are benign tachycardia, as well as supraventricular tachycardia, so Al-Issawi advises completely preventing high-caffeinated drinks, and being aware that the maximum permissible limit for teenagers is 100 mg per day, which is equivalent to a small cup of coffee or half a can of a soft drink that contains caffeine.
Healthy alternatives
The World Health Organization recognizes that “caffeine dependence” is a clinical disorder, and that those who depend on caffeine show symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and other signs that prompt many of them to consume it despite its complications, due to their failed attempts to reduce or control its intake.
So, there is worrying information that has been linked to the numbers of caffeine consumption among children and teenagers. According to a national survey conducted by researchers at the SS Mott Hospital in the United States, it showed that parents are usually not aware of the extent of their children’s caffeine consumption, whether they are children or teenagers, 73% of whom in the United States alone are accustomed to consuming it on a daily basis.
The good news is that there are healthy alternatives and a set of practices that will help with alertness and focus as an alternative to caffeine in all its forms. According to the medical website WebMed, there are reliable ways to feel alert without caffeine, the most prominent of which are:
- Chewing gum improves attention, enhances productivity, and helps alertness and respond faster.
- Maintain a nap of 15 to 30 minutes for more alertness.
- Spraying some scents such as lemon and mint stimulates the senses, helps focus and restores energy.
- Drink water throughout the day, as one of the signs of dehydration is feeling tired.
- Go out and walk for at least 30 minutes a day in the sunshine.
- Exercising naturally improves mood.
- Eat a snack of leafy vegetables, such as spinach and cabbage, as vitamin V helps the process of producing energy in the cells again.