Caffeine’s kick isn’t worth the hype Its health effects can work against studying students By Chad Lorenz Staff Reporter Students may think they need the extra boost that caffeine pro vides during finals week, but uni versity health officials warn them to beware of its effects. Many students use caffeine products the night before tests so they can stay up late to study. But Dave Bower, health center drug and alcohol education coordina tor, said students always weren’t aware of the effects of taking caffeine. i aon i minx mey consider the dangers,” he said. Caffeine can cause insomnia, headaches, upset stomach, dizzi ness, nervousness and mood changes, he said. Jennifer Johnson, a senior po litical science major, said she once took NoDoz, an over-the counter caffeine pill, to study late into the night. She said she had a headache and felt jittery and nervous the next morning. “I’ll never do it again,” Johnson said. She plans to use her time bet ter for finals this semester, she said, by preparing for them one at a time. Jeremy Hahn, a freshman civil engineering major, said he once used Vivarin the night before two tests. He wasn’t able to study very well, he said, because he took more than the recommended dose. “I was wired,” Hahn said. “I was bouncing off the walls all night.” But, he said he was tired the next day during hi s test and didn ’t think the test went well. He said he would distribute his time better during finals this year. Kayla Dulaney, a senior nurs ing student, said she crammed 1 Photo illustration by Miclwil* Pauiman When tha strass of studying takas Its toll, many students turn to caffalna to