Can you drink coffee with a concussion?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “can you drink coffee with a concussion” with an in-depth analysis of the effects of caffeine, present in coffee, on normal as well as the injured brain. Moreover, we are going to highlight what is concussion and what alternatives to coffee can be consumed to get the relieving effects.

Can you drink coffee with a concussion?

Yes, you can drink coffee with a concussion. Most people think that Coffee can be used to eliminate the stress and fatigue during a brain injury recovery but, the caffeine present in the coffee can hinder the recovery after a brain injury. Therefore, one should be careful in the amount of coffee consumed as excessive consumption may cause problems.

Normal effects of caffeine on brain

Normally, The caffeine present in coffee is known to inform you, increase alertness, boost your memory and attention, activate the sympathetic nervous system, and affect hormone production.

As a result of a brain injury, most people may feel down that can be produced through the use of coffee as it contains a chemical known as caffeine which stimulates the brain and produces the feeling of alertness.

Besides making you awake and alert, caffeine also helps you to achieve a state of happiness by interacting with some chemicals that suggest dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin. These chemicals interact with the caffeine present in coffee and may result in happiness and alertness.

If you also improve your memory and attention and positively affect your digestive system through the metabolism of awesome medications that you are ingesting through the period of brain injury recovery. But excessive consumption of coffee may be harmful as it may produce some side effects too.

Effects of coffee on the brain after an injury

Coffee is normally rich in antioxidants that can help in the reduction of information in different parts of the brain and helps the brain to function more efficiently. Caffeine can also block the release of adenosine Which is a neuroprotective agent known for reducing information and promoting brain healing. In this regard, coffee consumption can reduce recovery speed.

Caffeine is also considered a vasoconstrictor that is it can cause the constriction of vessels presents in the brain thus, altering the normal flow of blood. This reduced blood flow may result in the reduction of nutrients delivered to certain parts of the brain that eventually impair brain function. Therefore, the consumption of coffee should be properly regulated.

Alternatives to Caffeine:

To avoid the adverse effects of caffeine, one should be careful in that a moderate amount should be consumed and better is to avoid caffeine-containing beverages as much as possible. Some of the alternatives that can give you some relieving effects after a brain injury are as follows:

Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting can also provide you with a lot of benefits, including brain function boosting and mental fatigue reduction.  During fasting, the fat present in the body is converted to ketones and then into energy.

Fasting is mainly helpful for those having a brain injury, especially when they Do not have enough glucose in their body. The common fasting length for brain injury patients is about 16 hours without eating anything.

Energy-boosting foods 

Energy-rich foods also serve as a great source of nutrients that can heal your brain after a concussion. Some of the energy-rich foods may include blueberries, broccoli, fatty fish, bananas, and nuts.

Moreover, you also need to be hydrated as the access level of fluid in your body can flush out harmful chemicals that have been accumulated in the brain region and eventually may improve your mental clarity

Exercise

Exercise may also improve your body’s endorphins level and you may become more energetic. The level of oxygen in your blood is also increased as a result of which the blood flow to your brain is enhanced. All these things collectively help in brain healing and provide enough energy required throughout the day.

The best type of exercise suggested for a concussion patient is any kind of Arabic exercise, such as biking, swimming, and yoga. The first and foremost thing is to build up the stamina for which you need to start with a light and short workout and then gradually increase the intensity as well as the frequency of your exercise.

Healthy sleep

Proper sleep is also an important factor as it may radio stuff in the attic as well as prevent your brain from being overworked. Some people, after a brain injury, may also suffer from sleep apnea that needs to be treated as soon as possible.

Stress reduction

The stress on the brain should also be reduced after a brain injury for which you need to adopt some relaxing activities such as yoga. Some people also start doing some art or recreational therapies that can help them to relax their minds and divert their attention from some specific problem causing issues.

Concussion

The conclusion can be defined as a mild traumatic brain injury that may result when your brain is affected by some injury on Shock. Concussions are usually not life-threatening but they may have the potential to change your mental state.

Some of the complications of concussion may include post-romantic headaches, Vertigo, post-concussion syndrome, second impact syndrome, and others.

You can also find some tips about the initial management of the concussion here.

Other FAQs about Coffee that you may be interested in.

Can you drink coffee while religious fasting?

Can you drink coffee that has been sitting out?

Can you eat coffee grounds?

Conclusion:

In this brief guide, we answered the question “can you drink coffee with a concussion” with an in-depth analysis of the effects of coffee on the normal and injured brain. Moreover, we discussed what concussion is and what other foods can be consumed instead of coffee to get some relaxing effects.

Citations:

https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/alcohol-caffeine-concussion-recovery
https://www.flintrehab.com/caffeine-after-brain-injury/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-do-concussions-last#dos-and-donts