I started with one cup of coffee in my school days when I had to burn the midnight oil to finish of the never-ending syllabus, and then came college and the regular competitions and exams that always kept me on the edge. This gave way to a taxing and demanding job and I just could not do without my dose of caffeine. I needed coffee after every 3 hours! As time progressed I found myself getting more and more edgy, anxious as well as sleepless.

Bad habits are easy to get used to but difficult to dispense with. Caffeine is one such bad habit that creeps into your system slowly but steadily. You start off with one cup, then two and so on till it becomes an addiction. If you are one of those people who always thought that caffeine means only coffee, then read on to learn some home truths. Though coffee is a concentrated source of caffeine, this is also found in:

Tea

Cocoa

Chocolate milk

Chocolate syrup

Chocolate icing and cakes

Plain chocolate

Soft drinks namely Coca-cola and Pepsi

Cola candies

Did you know that caffeine can play havoc with your system? Here's how:

1. Blood pressure

This may shock you but it is true that within two hours of taking in caffeine in any manner, blood pressure (BP) rises and remains high for nearly 3 hours! And if you are used to that cup of tea or coffee after every 3-4 hours, then your BP must always be high! Now you know why you are always edgy and anxious!

Your brain certainly gets a spurt of energy every time you consume that caffeine. You will feel refreshed, awake, energized and ready to go. But you are also bound to get nervous, restless, sensitive, sleepless and anxious if you keep up or increase your current level!

A high BP will definitely have an impact on your heart. It is a proven fact that people who drink nearly 6 cups of coffee everyday are twice as more prone to a heart attack! The choice is yours!

Caffeine gives rise to indigestion and acidity, and is also responsible for ulcers. So the next time you suffer from heartburn try and recollect the number of tea or coffee breaks that you have taken.

Isn't warding off sleep one of the reasons you take that coffee? You want to keep that sleep away so that you can finish off your pending work but you will actually find that you will not be able to sleep even when you want to! And this is the result of the caffeine flowing through your blood stream!

Like with other addictions, quitting is not easy. You may suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and listlessness. You will crave for your regular fix and find yourself feeling irritable for no rhyme or reason. The trick is to divert your mind and engage in some activities. Go for a run in the park, do some exercises or aerobics. Take one day at a time and don't expect miracles. Give yourself time, stick to your convictions and never give up.