The worst time to drink coffee, according to a neurologist

If you drink coffee, the timing may affect your alertness and sleep, and could cause anxiety or jitteriness. It’s important to be mindful of the least helpful and worst times to consume coffee so you can avoid coffee’s potential disruptions while taking advantage of its benefits.

1. Sleep: Don't Drink Within Eight Hours of Bedtime 

Coffee can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, and this effect can last for several hours or longer. 

For most people, it’s best not to consume coffee within about eight hours of the time when you want to sleep. And some people may even have a hard time sleeping up to 24 hours after drinking coffee.

It’s possible to fall asleep within a few hours of drinking coffee if you’re especially exhausted. But coffee can interfere with the quality of your sleep, so you might not feel well rested, even if you fall asleep.

2. Alertness and Energy: Avoid Energy Dip 4 to 6 Hours After Drinking 

Coffee could make you feel more alert, energetic, and in a more positive mood. Drinking coffee might be useful if you are looking for these effects for a few hours.

Keep in mind that the energy-boosting effects of a cup of coffee will wear off after a few hours, and you may feel a dip in energy or even a “crash” as the caffeine effect declines. 

If you aim to have more energy during exercise or when giving a presentation, recognize that you might feel more tired than usual 4 to 6 hours after drinking coffee. 

3. Final Exam Week: Don't Drink to Stay Awake Too Long

Students who use coffee to stay awake for a long time to study for exams may experience disrupted sleep when they finally get to bed—and that can affect exam performance. So, while it’s true that coffee can keep you awake for a longer period of time, so you can study or get work done, the end result can be a lower quality outcome.

4. Insulin Resistance: Don't Drink Later in the Day 

Coffee may help regulate blood sugar and might help prevent insulin resistance, which is a prediabetes risk factor. Preliminary studies suggest that drinking coffee later in the day is less effective at controlling blood sugar and insulin resistance than drinking it in the morning. 

5. Managing Headaches: Avoid Inconsistent Timing

If you are prone to headaches, coffee can be your friend or your enemy.

Timing and frequency are key factors:

• If you regularly drink coffee daily or almost every day, skipping coffee for more than 24 hours can trigger a headache. 
• If you don’t typically drink coffee, then a cup of coffee can cause a pounding headache. 

When it comes to managing headaches, the worst time to drink coffee is different from your usual time or pattern. 

6. Making Your Best Impression: Don't Start Drinking Coffee 

Coffee can make some people feel jittery or restless, and this can be a risk, especially if you don’t typically consume coffee.

If you want to perform at your best during an interview, presentation, or a social situation, it’s not a good time to drink coffee if you aren’t used to it. Coffee can make you feel stressed, anxious, or nervous. It can make you jittery or fidgety—which doesn’t make a good impression. 

7. Medication Interactions: Be Mindful of Timing

Be mindful of how coffee interacts with any medications you take. Coffee can affect heart rate for people who are prone to arrhythmia (irregular or rapid heartbeat) and may increase blood pressure. So you might need to avoid coffee right before your medication doses, or when the effects of your medication start to wear off.

8. When You Won't Have Access to a Restroom

You may need to empty your bladder or bowels shortly after drinking coffee. You could consider avoiding or postponing coffee until you know that you can get to a restroom.

Read the original article on Verywell Health