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[Food & Nutrition](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/) 2. [Weird Health Symptoms](https://www.prevention.com/weird-health-symptoms/) 3. [6 Physical Symptoms That Mean You're Drinking Too Much Coffee](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/g20486438/physical-symptoms-from-too-much-coffee/) # 6 Physical Symptoms That Mean You're Drinking Too Much Coffee by [Allison Young](https://www.prevention.com/author/4400/allison-young/) Published: Nov 3, 2016    Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock We're not here to knock coffee. Our day doesn't percolate without a morning mug of joe. Plus it's [linked to some pretty sweet perks](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20439172/infographic-the-health-benefits-of-coffee/), from healthy longevity to decreased risk for dementia. But your double shot could also serve up some not-so-welcome side effects—some you may not even link back to java. We're not saying you have to quit coffee (*as if*), but there are tweaks to your daily ritual that can tone down its aftermath. (Looking for a new favorite coffee? Try [*Prevention's* Don't Burn Out Roast organic coffee beans](http://shop.prevention.com/prevention%27s-don%27t-burn-out-roast-organic-coffee-beans/E004770.html?dwvar_E004770_color=F01&categoryid=PVN-food-coffee&_ga=1.82691540.372674814.1476279462#start=1&cid=shop_PVN_food_coffee_article)!) ## You're a little too amped up.  CREATISTA/Shutterstock Java jitters are a thing. Not only is coffee a central nervous system stimulant, but caffeine blocks adenosine receptors while jacking up adrenaline, dopamine, and glutamate, a combo that can cause a fight-or-flight frenzy. "Sympathetic nervous system activation can lead to anxiety, jitters, increased heart rate, irritability, and perhaps even anger outbursts," says Michael Yassa, PhD, an associate professor of neurobiology and behavior at University of California, Irvine and director of the [Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory](http://www.cnlm.uci.edu/). (Find out [how many cups of coffee is too many](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/a20503946/how-many-cups-of-coffee-is-it-really-ok-to-drink-every-day/).) **Coffee fix:** "Switching to decaf helps, as it reduces, but doesn't completely eliminate, the caffeine intake," says Yassa, who warns against coffee for anyone with a heart condition. ## You crash during the day.  George Rudy/Shutterstock Props to coffee for its pick-me-up benefits—it can take you from tired to wired in a flash. But when the jolt wears off, you could come crashing down. A [study](http://news.ubc.ca/2012/03/28/coffee-and-other-stimulant-drugs-may-cause-high-achievers-to-slack-off-ubc-study/) published in the journal *Neuropsychopharmacology* also found that caffeine could wreck productivity, causing hard workers to slack off. "Many people rely on their caffeine fix to help them feel alert in the day but it's truly false energy," warns [Jenna Braddock, RDN](http://jennabraddock.com/), a sports nutritionist in St. Augustine, FL. **Coffee fix:** Make sure you [eat for energy](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20486845/energizing-meals/). "Only food can provide real fuel for your body," adds Braddock. **MORE:** [7 Reasons You're Tired All The Time](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20501661/why-you-are-always-tired/) Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ## You take A LOT of trips to the bathroom.  Shockfactor.de/Shutterstock [Coffee is a diuretic](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20430445/coffee-as-a-diuretic/), meaning it can up your urinating frequency, especially if you're not a regular coffee drinker. "While the research says [coffee isn't technically dehydrating](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20465840/coffee-hydrates-like-water-study/), if you're drinking coffee and not getting enough water, you're not really hydrating your system," says [Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD](http://corinnedobbas.com/), a San Francisco-based registered dietitian. **Coffee fix:** Have a healthy snack with your espresso. "Food will slow down the movement of fluid through your stomach and digestive tract—and ultimately your bladder," says Braddock. **MORE:** [What The Color Of Your Pee Says About Your Health](https://www.prevention.com/health/a33235427/pee-color-meaning/) ## Your eyes won't stop twitching.  ivector/Shutterstock [Eye twitches](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20451906/dr-travis-stork-on-frequent-eye-twitching/) seem to come out of nowhere, yet the [National Institutes of Health](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000756.htm) lists caffeine among the top three causes. [Research](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/jphysiol.2002.025064/full) from York University shows that caffeine triggers the release of serotonin and noradrenaline, excitatory neurotransmitters that can increase reactivity in the muscles and nerves. **Coffee fix:** Cut the coffee and [up your water intake](https://www.prevention.com/life/a20462878/how-much-water-should-you-drink/). Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ## You need to go \#2, like, NOW\!  sudowoodo/Shutterstock Coffee has a laxative effect on [about 30% of people](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/08/10/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop/) (decaf too!). Scientists aren't exactly sure [what triggers the toilet trip](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20481696/coffee-makes-you-poop/), but both coffee's acidic content and its stimulating effect on the gut and colon could trigger that gotta-go urge. **Coffee fix:** Go dark! Richer coffees like French roast and espresso are less acidic and contain less caffeine. **MORE:** [7 Things Your Poop Says About You](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20433918/7-things-your-poop-says-about-you/) ## Your sleep schedule is out of whack.  yskiii/Shutterstock Science says coffee can [sabotage slumber](https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/g20505985/sleep-myths-and-real-solutions-for-better-sleep/), wrecking quality and quantity, and making it harder to catch z's—even when it's sipped 6 hours before bedtime. Coffee can also hack your body's circadian rhythm, giving you that [jet lag-like sluggishness](https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/a20471188/best-jet-lag-with-the-right-lighting/) during daylight hours, too. "Sleep is so critical for all aspects of cognitive function, so any benefit expected from caffeine would be immediately eliminated if it led to sleep loss," warns Yassa. **Coffee fix:** Stop the Starbucks runs by 4 PM to keep from messing with your bedtime. Watch Next Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ## [Weird Health Symptoms](https://www.prevention.com/weird-health-symptoms/) [Doctors Share 10 Surprising Signs of Acid Reflux](https://www.prevention.com/health/a70386562/acid-reflux-symptoms-signs/) [Blood Clot Symptoms Doctors Want You to Know](https://www.prevention.com/health/g70287994/signs-you-might-have-a-blood-clot/) [Doctors Say These Symptoms Can Signal a UTI](https://www.prevention.com/health/a69269440/symptoms-of-urinary-tract-infection/) [Sneaky Signs You Have a Vitamin B12 Deficiency](https://www.prevention.com/health/a69109285/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-signs/) Advertisement - Continue Reading Below [12 Sneaky Signs You're Not Eating Enough Iron](https://www.prevention.com/health/a69100786/signs-of-iron-deficiency/) [These Conditions Could Be Behind Your Ear Symptoms](https://www.prevention.com/health/a66011603/weird-ear-conditions/) [Experts Share How to Tell If You Have Nerve Damage](https://www.prevention.com/health/a66011269/symptoms-of-nerve-damage/) [3 Symptoms That May Signal an Iodine Deficiency](https://www.prevention.com/health/a65985037/symptoms-of-iodine-deficiency/) [5 Subtle Signs Your Pancreas Is in Trouble](https://www.prevention.com/health/a65926888/signs-of-pancreas-problems/) [10 Surprising Reasons You Always Have to Pee](https://www.prevention.com/health/a65782866/reasons-you-always-have-to-pee/) [7 Super-Simple Strategies for Getting Rid of Gas](https://www.prevention.com/health/a65644243/how-to-banish-gas-and-bloating/) [10 Sneaky Reasons Why You're Thirsty All the Time](https://www.prevention.com/health/a65644047/thirsty-all-the-time/) Advertisement - Continue Reading Below [](https://www.prevention.com/) [](https://x.com/PreventionMag) [](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9M3b9q8SsPraJVWacDU68Q) [](https://www.facebook.com/preventionmagazine/) [](https://www.instagram.com/preventionmag/) [](https://www.pinterest.com/preventionmag/) [About Prevention.com](https://www.prevention.com/about/a23303715/about-prevention/)[Newsletter](https://www.prevention.com/newsletter)[Press Room](https://www.hearst.com/news)[Give A Gift](https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/splits/prevention/pre_gift_nav_link?source=pre_gift_nav_footer)[Community Guidelines](https://www.prevention.com/about/a19061064/community-guidelines/)[Subscribe](https://membership.prevention.com/prevention-health-360-premium.html?cds_tracking_code=pre_footer)[Media Kit](http://www.preventionmediakit.com/r5/home.asp)[Advertise Online](https://www.prevention.com/about/a19061086/advertise-online/)[Customer Service](https://service.prevention.com/login?redirect=%2F)  A Part of Hearst Digital Media We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. ©2026 Hearst Magazines, Inc. 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## You're a little too amped up.  CREATISTA/Shutterstock Java jitters are a thing. Not only is coffee a central nervous system stimulant, but caffeine blocks adenosine receptors while jacking up adrenaline, dopamine, and glutamate, a combo that can cause a fight-or-flight frenzy. "Sympathetic nervous system activation can lead to anxiety, jitters, increased heart rate, irritability, and perhaps even anger outbursts," says Michael Yassa, PhD, an associate professor of neurobiology and behavior at University of California, Irvine and director of the [Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory](http://www.cnlm.uci.edu/). (Find out [how many cups of coffee is too many](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/a20503946/how-many-cups-of-coffee-is-it-really-ok-to-drink-every-day/).) **Coffee fix:** "Switching to decaf helps, as it reduces, but doesn't completely eliminate, the caffeine intake," says Yassa, who warns against coffee for anyone with a heart condition. ## You crash during the day.  George Rudy/Shutterstock Props to coffee for its pick-me-up benefits—it can take you from tired to wired in a flash. But when the jolt wears off, you could come crashing down. A [study](http://news.ubc.ca/2012/03/28/coffee-and-other-stimulant-drugs-may-cause-high-achievers-to-slack-off-ubc-study/) published in the journal *Neuropsychopharmacology* also found that caffeine could wreck productivity, causing hard workers to slack off. "Many people rely on their caffeine fix to help them feel alert in the day but it's truly false energy," warns [Jenna Braddock, RDN](http://jennabraddock.com/), a sports nutritionist in St. Augustine, FL. **Coffee fix:** Make sure you [eat for energy](https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20486845/energizing-meals/). "Only food can provide real fuel for your body," adds Braddock. **MORE:** [7 Reasons You're Tired All The Time](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20501661/why-you-are-always-tired/) Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ## You take A LOT of trips to the bathroom.  Shockfactor.de/Shutterstock ## Your eyes won't stop twitching.  ivector/Shutterstock [Eye twitches](https://www.prevention.com/health/a20451906/dr-travis-stork-on-frequent-eye-twitching/) seem to come out of nowhere, yet the [National Institutes of Health](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000756.htm) lists caffeine among the top three causes. [Research](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/jphysiol.2002.025064/full) from York University shows that caffeine triggers the release of serotonin and noradrenaline, excitatory neurotransmitters that can increase reactivity in the muscles and nerves. **Coffee fix:** Cut the coffee and [up your water intake](https://www.prevention.com/life/a20462878/how-much-water-should-you-drink/). Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ## You need to go \#2, like, NOW\!  sudowoodo/Shutterstock ## Your sleep schedule is out of whack.  yskiii/Shutterstock Science says coffee can [sabotage slumber](https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/g20505985/sleep-myths-and-real-solutions-for-better-sleep/), wrecking quality and quantity, and making it harder to catch z's—even when it's sipped 6 hours before bedtime. Coffee can also hack your body's circadian rhythm, giving you that [jet lag-like sluggishness](https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/a20471188/best-jet-lag-with-the-right-lighting/) during daylight hours, too. "Sleep is so critical for all aspects of cognitive function, so any benefit expected from caffeine would be immediately eliminated if it led to sleep loss," warns Yassa. **Coffee fix:** Stop the Starbucks runs by 4 PM to keep from messing with your bedtime.