Caffeine might become substitute to sleep

Or so, ScienceDaily tells us.

Morning Jolt Of Caffeine Might Mask Serious Sleep Problems

With the holiday season’s hustle and bustle in full swing, most of us will race to our favorite coffee shop to get that caffeine boost to make it through the day. However, that daily jolt that we crave might be the reason we need the caffeine in the first place.

“Many people won’t get enough sleep during the holidays and will drink numerous cups of coffee or high energy drinks so they will have enough energy to finish shopping and attend numerous parties,” said Dr. Joshua Septimus, an internist with The Methodist Hospital in Houston. “Most will use caffeine to push their bodies to the extreme, when they could get just as much energy from good night’s sleep.”

I'm shocked, shocked. Do you mean that a drink that you drink to wake you up, might actually keep you awake?

Of course, there is a deeper point to the article, which might be worth noticing - if you keep going on caffeinated drinks, you don't solve the root problems, but only the symptoms. Instead you should try to catch up on your sleep.

This, of course, is easier said than done, and doesn't really address those people who are forced to adapt to (for them) unnatural sleep patterns - e.g. 'owls' having to get up early in the morning.