Coffee can put some people to sleep and keep others awake all night but why?

• Millions of people consume coffee daily worldwide, but how the body processes the effects of caffeine varies radically according to genetics.
• While certain individuals can drink a cup at night without altering sleep, others experience insomnia and nervousness due to metabolic speed.
• Factors such as DNA, tobacco consumption and health hormone changes directly influence each body’s tolerance to this popular beverage.

The science behind why caffeine does not hit everyone with the same intensity

When we wonder why that friend of yours can drink a double espresso right before sleeping and fall fast asleep while you spend the early morning staring at the ceiling unable to sleep, the answer lies within the mysteries of our own organism and the way it processes the effects of caffeine. With over two billion cups consumed daily across the planet, coffee established itself as the world’s most popular psychoactive substance, taking charge of blocking adenosine to mask the sensation of tiredness. However, the secret of its impact on people lies in the time caffeine remains active in the bloodstream before the liver processes it. While some people metabolize the drink in a few hours, others accumulate its effects during much of the day, experiencing that unwanted sensation of anxiety or lack of sleep at night if they exceed daily cups.

The role of hepatic DNA and genetics in coffee tolerance

Furthermore, when diving deeper into the scientific reasons explaining this variability among people, the speed at which the liver breaks down caffeine depends directly on a single gene known as CYP1A2, which determines how swiftly our system operates to tackle the effects of coffee. Interestingly, recent research demonstrates that genetic ancestry also plays an important role, finding that certain population groups process the coffee substance faster than others. We must consider that external factors like smoking add to this, accelerating hepatic metabolism by up to sixty-five percent, explaining why smokers usually tolerate much larger quantities without batting an eye. Conversely, health hormone changes during pregnancy or certain medications achieve opposite effects, prolonging caffeine presence and making stimulant effects and lack of sleep feel with unusual force.

 

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Una publicación compartida de Som Kohanzadeh, MD, FACS (@somkplasticsurgery)

Expert recommendations to enjoy your favorite beverage without ruining sleep

Facing this landscape of stark individual differences among people, medicine and sleep health specialists recommend suspending caffeine consumption at least six hours before bedtime to guarantee truly restorative rest. Although experts suggest avoiding these beverages like coffee after two in the afternoon if the plan is to sleep early, they remind us that no strict universal rule exists because personal tolerance constantly changes. At the end of the day, consuming coffee moderately not only proves a safe and pleasant experience, but diverse studies suggest it links to lower long-term health risks, allowing every beverage lover to find their own ideal balance.