Do you start your morning routine with a steaming hot mug of dark roasted coffee, or do you prefer the homely taste of a fresh cup of tea? You may be in luck as new studies are saying that consuming caffeine regularly may increase your ability to withstand pain.
After recruiting 62 men and women, ages ranging from 19 to 77, researchers had them record their daily caffeine intake and after seven days, the volunteers were taken into a laboratory to test their pain tolerance using calibrated devices that gradually increased heat or pressure of the volunteer’s forearm or back. The experiment controlled for sex and race, current tobacco use and alcohol consumption, among other variables that could affect pain sensation. Still, they found that the more caffeine consumed, the greater the tolerance for pain.
Researchers say caffeine reduces pain by blocking receptors in the brain called adenosine, which enhances the effect of dopamine chemicals associated with pain relief. Caffeine has been added to over-the-counter pain relievers like Excedrin for years, and has been shown to increase their effectiveness by as much as 40%.
Next time you’re experiencing some minor muscle pain, try reaching for the coffee pot and getting your caffeine fix, it might just help.
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