Is Needing Caffeine to Be Alert Problematic?

[kyphysics]

Yes, I know I should consult with my doctor (and plan to). Nonetheless, I'm wondering:

a.) How common is it for someone to need caffeine to get alert?
b.) If it is practically daily, does that seem problematic?

For me, being alert and not feeling tired certainly varies with sleep. Less sleep = slower/tired/groggy, etc. More/sufficient sleep = more fresh/alert, etc. Still, even when I'm getting 8-9 hours (rare, but probably achieved 2...maybe 3 - at most - times a week), I feel not that alert and tired. Caffeine does it for me, though. It works on me within 10 minutes.

I guess it feels like a drug.

Wondering if others need caffeine constantly and if you've spoken to a doctor about it before (again, I plan to...this is just a curiosity thread).

 

[berkeman]

You should do a single-blind study. Have your significant other give you either decaf or regular coffee randomly for a couple weeks, and record if you feel alert or not.

BTW, I had the opposite problem -- on days where I was working a medical shift, I had to avoid regular coffee before my shift because it caused a little bit of shaking in my hands. And you can imagine what patients think when you go to treat them and they see your hands shaking...

 

[Rive]

I guess it feels like a drug.

It is a drug...

You can try to mix some physical activity in your work schedule, if possible.
Or, maybe, a nap

Sadly,not all jobs are for (real) humans

 

[artis]

@kyphysics I would recommend getting enough sleep, that is the base of everything from alertness to being healthy, I also use coffee but only as an additive on top of a good night sleep to get me a bit over the edge.

Caffeine does make an impact, I guess for each one a different dose is needed but above a certain limit everyone would feel it's effects , although I would say that without a good sleep using caffeine regularly might just increase your blood pressure or heart rate and that is not healthy or needed.
That is why people who smoke and drink strong black coffee at the same time do their hearts a huge damage long term because both nicotine and caffeine increase blood pressure.

Both of these chemicals stimulate the central nervous system , I have done both at some point and I felt them strongly. I became I would say orders of magnitude more alert but also more stressful and my heart rate was increased etc and I did not like it.