"It decreases drowsiness and fatigue, and has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system that can lead to insomnia, anxiety, restlessness and tremors," said Dr. James Shayman, a physician in the nephrology department.
Shayman said caffeine stimulates the respiratory center of the brain and relaxes smooth muscles such as the bronchioles in the lungs, which causes increased breathing rates.
Shayman said caffeine also makes the heart beat faster.
"It increases the heart rate and may increase abnormal heart rhythms," he said, "but the data is limited for its effect on the normalcy of the heart rhythm - there haven't been many good studies on that."
Shayman said caffeine has no beneficial medical uses, but that drugs similar to caffeine have been developed to help patients with respiratory conditions.
"We would never use it in a medical setting. There is no clinically beneficial setting in which it is used," he said, "but a whole variety of drugs similar to caffeine are used to treat asthma."
RC senior Sarah Alvarez said she is careful not to drink too much coffee and limits her consumption.
"I drink no more than three cups a day because that's a healthy level - so they say."
Alvarez said she read a recent Harvard study that indicated that lower coffee consumption was beneficial not only to the quality of life, but to the existence of life.
"Women who drink over three cups a day have a higher suicide rate," she said, "so I guess I'm also keeping my suicide rate down."
Alvarez said she is used to drinking coffee and has developed a tolerance that dampens its effects.
"I think I'm immune to it. I don't really feel side effects unless I have four espressos or something like that."
Shayman, who also admitted to drinking a lot of coffee, said people will acquire a tolerance that can eventually lead to withdrawal symptoms.
"People develop tolerance to caffeine, so there is a mild withdrawal syndrome that is associated with stopping the consumption of caffeine such as fatigue, headaches, nausea and, rarely, vomiting."
According to the American Psychiatric Association, caffeine is not an addictive drug. Shayman agreed, and said its effects are too mild for it to be considered habit-forming.
"I wouldn't consider it to be addictive," he said. "People become dependent on drinking coffee, but it's not addictive in the same sense as cocaine or, say, heroin."
Shayman said he didn't have specific recommendations concerning the amount each person should limit themselves to.
"I think it is dependent on the individual person," he said. "If people develop any outward symptoms like heart palpitations or anxiety, then it would be appropriate to limit intake."