Don't drink refreshing drinks during the Spring Festival. Be careful of excessive caffeine.

◎ reporter Shen Lixuan / interview and report

Chinese New year is coming, during the Spring Festival, playing mahjong is definitely one of the routine activities of many people, but playing mahjong in the middle of the night will inevitably feel tired, so many people will drink pick-me-up drinks. But be careful when drinking these pick-me-up drinks. Usually these pick-me-up drinks contain caffeine. If you drink too much in one night, you should pay attention to the problem of caffeine overdose, which is more likely to cause patients with a history of chronic diseases. Elevated blood pressure and rapid heartbeat. (the picture shows a variety of refreshing drinks, retaken from the English version of Wikipedia, by Grendelkhan at en.Wikipedia)

According to health education articles in Taitung Hospital of the Department of Health, excessive caffeine can cause symptoms such as palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, headache, stomachache, blushing, nausea, frequent urination, and even muscle tremors. Long-term drinking coffee will produce psychological dependence. When coffee is stopped, there will be withdrawal symptoms, mainly headache, tiredness, restlessness, nausea and vomiting, eager to drink a cup of coffee and so on. A few people even become grumpy, irritable, or even depressed. In addition, long-term use of caffeine will worsen ulcers in people with a bad stomach, heart palpitations or arrhythmias in patients with heart disease, and symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders worsen to a degree of panic. Pregnant women should avoid using them to increase the risk of fetal deformities, underweight, premature delivery, and even death.

The health education article of Yuli Hospital of the Department of Health of the Executive Yuan also reminds everyone that refreshing drinks, which mostly contain caffeine, vitamins or amino acids, can really relieve fatigue in a short time. However, the body will pay a higher price. The adrenal gland is repeatedly stimulated, resulting in blockage of blood vessels in the body, rupture or lead to arrhythmia even more serious, the article also advises the public to be refreshed Moderate aerobic exercise, such as swimming or brisk walking, can replenish oxygen to the body and reduce fatigue.