Coffee lovers look forward to that energy boost from their morning coffee. Unfortunately, that morning cup of joe leads to lightheadedness and dizziness for some coffee drinkers.
If you're wondering why this happens to you after you drink coffee, you're in the right place. Caffeine is the primary culprit behind the dizziness you may experience after drinking coffee.
Below we'll go over the scientific explanation behind coffee-induced dizziness and cover practical ways to prevent and treat it. So, let's dive in and discover how to get rid of dizziness after drinking coffee!
9 Ways To Stop Dizziness After Drinking Coffee
1. Drink Lots of Water
Did you know that you can become dehydrated when you drink coffee?
That's why you should be sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, particularly if you have woozy reactions after drinking your coffee.
Staying hydrated also helps with caffeine metabolism, so you can continue your day without feeling sluggish. However, it's essential to be cautious when choosing alternatives to water.
Sugary drinks like sports drinks often contain additives to enhance performance that could exacerbate your symptoms instead of relieving them.
That's why it's always best just to drink water.
2. Eat Breakfast Before Coffee
Drinking your morning coffee on an empty stomach can adversely affect your digestive system.
Without any food to help balance things out, too much caffeine can increase the production of stomach acids, leading to discomfort, nausea, and irritation.
Drinking too many cups of coffee on an empty stomach can be particularly troublesome for individuals who suffer from coffee-induced dizziness.
Have breakfast before indulging in your first cup of coffee to avoid these issues. Even a small meal before you drink acidic coffee can protect your stomach lining from too much caffeine by helping you digest it.
3. Stop Drinking Too Much Coffee
Less caffeine means less dizziness. The caffeine present in your system remains there for several hours, so avoiding excessive consumption is crucial.
If you drink more caffeine, you'll have to wait longer for the dizziness and other caffeine-related effects to disappear.
The more coffee you consume, the longer it takes for your body to recover from its negative effects. Excess caffeine can also lead to caffeine toxicity, which may cause unpleasant symptoms.[1]
Your daily limit should be about 4 cups of black coffee or 6 espresso shots per day.
Consuming more can amplify caffeine’s effects. Try to space out your cups of coffee and know their caffeine content.
If you feel dizzy, stop drinking coffee for at least ten hours.
If you're highly sensitive to caffeine, you might need to wait even longer to alleviate their symptoms. Knowing your daily caffeine limit can help you avoid dizziness.
4. Switch To Decaf
The word "decaf" is a dirty word among most coffee aficionados, but it might be time to try decaf instead of regular coffee. It could be your only option if you're dizzy drinking coffee and nothing else works.
Some people complain about the taste of decaf coffee, but I have had plenty of delicious decaf coffees that rival their caffeinated counterparts.
And without the caffeine, they're much better for your overall health (and you can have more coffee!). Try to find swiss water decaf that has nearly 0% caffeine.
Other decaf methods can leave up to 5% caffeine.
Just remember that abruptly switching to decaf after always drinking regular coffee can lead to unpleasant caffeine withdrawal symptoms like migraines, fatigue, and nausea.
So it's best to gradually transition to decaf coffee to minimize these effects.
5. Try Different Roasts/Blends
There's always the possibility that you could be allergic to certain types of coffee beans. Robusta and Arabica are the two most commonly used coffee beans, each with unique properties.[2]
Arabica beans are often used in coffee blends because they produce a smooth and mellow taste.
However, robusta beans make a stronger, more bitter coffee. That's because robusta contains a higher percentage of caffeine, approximately 2.4%, compared to Arabica's 1.7%.
Blending these two types of beans can create a delicious coffee that shouldn't cause dizziness or other adverse side effects.
However, if you do experience dizziness after drinking a blended coffee, you may want to switch to a coffee made exclusively from Arabica beans.
6. Supplement with Vitamin D
Drinking caffeine can inhibit the absorption of vitamin D by the body. Vitamin D deficiency can result in low energy, fatigue, and dizziness, which may be attributed to the inhibitory effect of caffeine.
One of the best ways to increase vitamin D intake is to spend time in the sun and allow your skin to absorb the sun's rays.
However, this isn’t always possible, especially during inclement weather or if you have a busy schedule.
You can also incorporate seafood, mushrooms, egg yolks, and tofu into your diet to increase your Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements can also help you get enough of this vital nutrient.
7. Start Exercising Each Day
Caffeine can have a strong effect on the body, partly because some people have a weaker metabolism. So, boosting your metabolism can give your body more energy.
Just light exercise or a daily walk can improve your metabolism and help reduce your reliance on coffee. Monitor your heart rate during exercise and stop immediately if a sudden rapid increase or irregularity occurs.
Regular exercise is essential, especially for those who consume a lot of coffee.
If you've noticed your heart racing, any heart palpitations, or if you have high blood pressure rising after drinking coffee, it may be due to the excessive amount of caffeine.
8. Eat More Fiber
Fiber can help regulate digestion and blood sugar levels, indirectly affecting dizziness caused by coffee consumption.
While there is no direct evidence that increasing fiber intake can alleviate dizziness specifically caused by coffee, maintaining a balanced diet with sufficient fiber is always a good idea.
A high-fiber diet can help keep the digestive system running smoothly, which may indirectly reduce dizziness associated with coffee consumption.
Fiber can also help regulate blood sugar levels, affecting how the body reacts to caffeine.
9. Take Deep Breaths (Slow Down)
Drinking a lot of coffee can cause palpitations and make your heart ace. Fortunately, there are natural techniques that can manage these symptoms without medication.
For example, deep breathing exercises can effectively calm the body and mind and may even eliminate dizziness.
You can take a few slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth to signal your body to slow down.
Meditation is another excellent option to reduce the amount of dizziness after drinking coffee. A few minutes of daily meditation can improve your sense of calm and reduce anxiety.
While not a complete remedy for caffeine and dizziness symptoms, incorporating these techniques into your daily routine can alleviate discomfort.
Why Does Coffee Make You Dizzy?
Coffee can make you dizzy due to the stimulant of caffeine.
Caffeine is a popular stimulant that acts on the central nervous system to upregulate brain activity, increase alertness, and enhance cognitive function.[3]
And as a natural stimulant, the stimulatory effects also include reduced blood flow and sped-up communication between the brain and body.
This can lead to various effects, such as nausea, hyperactivity, and dizziness in some people.
Since caffeine reduces blood flow to the brain and causes high blood pressure, high coffee intake can result in lightheadedness or dizziness.
However, not everyone will experience these symptoms after they consume coffee. How your body metabolizes caffeine could be completely different than the next person.
So, if you feel dizzy after drinking coffee, there's no need to panic. It's a common side effect that can be corrected.
What Is Caffeine Sensitivity & What Causes It?
Caffeine sensitivity is a condition in which you experience the effects of caffeine more than those without sensitivity. It’s kind of like having a caffeine allergy.
Even a few sips of caffeine makes you feel like you have consumed multiple espresso shots if you are sensitive.
Caffeine-sensitive individuals can experience unpleasant symptoms like:
Various factors influence your caffeine tolerance.
For example, genes and enzymes responsible for processing caffeine can differ from person to person, so brain chemistry and liver metabolism variations can cause caffeine sensitivity.
In addition, certain medications and supplements can aggravate caffeine sensitivity by interacting with caffeine and intensifying its adverse effects.
People who don’t drink caffeine very often may also be more susceptible to its effects.
Finally, when caffeine is consumed, underlying health conditions like anxiety disorders can heighten symptoms like jitteriness and a racing heartbeat.
Other Reasons Coffee Can Cause Dizziness
Other Medications or Supplements
Drinking coffee can cause lightheadedness, especially if you take certain supplements or medications. Common supplements and medicines that interact with caffeine and cause dizziness are:
However, other medications and supplements not mentioned in this list can also mix with caffeine and increase dizziness.
Talking to your doctor if you feel lightheaded or have dizzy spells when drinking coffee with your medications or supplements is important.
Your doctor can determine if your meds are the cause and recommend alternative solutions to manage your symptoms.
Too Much Stress
Stress has several negative impacts on the body, including dizziness, anxiety, and a racing heart. Combined with excessive caffeine consumption, these symptoms can get much worse.
If you experience high stress levels or struggle to manage stress, you should reduce your caffeine intake to avoid exacerbating these symptoms.
Cutting back on coffee can help alleviate the effects of stress on your body and reduce the risk of experiencing dizziness.
Not Enough Sleep
The truth of the matter is that caffeine interferes with your sleep.
Your cup of coffee does a great job of boosting energy levels, which is why we drink it when we feel tired, but it also has the potential to prevent us from getting a good night's sleep.
This can be especially problematic for people who get dizzy after drinking coffee. This is because even small amounts of caffeine can disrupt sleep patterns and affect overall daily functioning.
And if you're already feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to lack of sleep, consuming caffeine can exacerbate these symptoms.
Combining sleep deprivation with a strong dose of caffeine can weaken your body and limit the blood supply to your brain. This can create the perfect conditions for dizziness.
Related Dizziness After Coffee Questions
How long does dizziness last after drinking coffee?
After drinking coffee, dizziness can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. How long you experience adverse effects depends on several factors, like how much coffee you drink, your tolerance level, and underlying health conditions.
How long does it take to flush caffeine out of your system?
How long it takes to flush caffeine out of your system depends on age, weight, gender, liver function, and how much caffeine you drink. On average, the body takes about 5 to 6 hours to eliminate half a cup of caffeine. So if you consume 200 milligrams of caffeine, after 5-6 hours, you will still have 100 milligrams of caffeine in your system.
Can an energy drink make me dizzy?
Yes, energy drinks can make you dizzy. Like coffee and other stimulant drinks, energy drinks also contain caffeine, which can make you feel jittery and light-headed.
Will taking L-theanine with my coffee alleviate dizziness?
Taking L-theanine with your coffee may help alleviate dizziness. L-theanine is an amino acid that interacts with brain chemicals and has been shown to reduce the jitters and dizziness associated with excessive caffeine consumption.
When should I be worried about dizziness after coffee?
You should be worried about dizziness after coffee if the dizziness persists or is accompanied by other symptoms. Pregnant women should be extra cautious about dizziness after coffee. Large amounts of caffeine consumption during pregnancy have been linked to negative outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental delays.
Can coffee give you vertigo?
Coffee is not known to cause vertigo directly. However, excessive caffeine intake can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and increased heart rate, which may mimic the feeling of vertigo, especially if you’re a coffee lover who is caffeine sensitive.
Conclusion
While coffee makes the day seem a little easier and can be an excellent source of energy for many, it can also lead to feelings of lightheadedness and dizziness.
However, understanding the caffeine content and the root causes of coffee-induced dizziness can help you enjoy your favorite drink and avoid feeling dizzy.
By remembering these tips, you can continue to savor your daily cup of coffee and get rid of dizziness.
References:
1. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821863-overview
2. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/9/2074
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519490/
