6A
Wednesdav. February 19, 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Caffeine can give users more jolt than expected
Drug can cause troubled sleep, prolonged effects
By Emily Vrabac
Kansan staff writer
Jolt, Surge, Mountain Dew. Students often use these beverages known for their high caffeine content to stay alert for class or to stay awake studying late at night.
But what many students don't know is that caffeine is addictive and can be hidden in large amounts in products not intended to promote alertness.
Too much caffeine even can cause an overdose, and it doesn't take much.
Ann Chapman, dietitian at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said that caffeine was OK in smaller doses but that college students often overdid it.
"The worst potential is abusing it to stay awake like college students often do." she said.
Linda Keeler, psychiatrist with Counseling and Psychological Services, said the effects of caffeine could last from six to 16 hours after ingesting it, which could cause students to have trouble sleeping.
"There's no question about the fact that caffeine can affect sleep," Keeler said. "It interferes with normal sleeping patterns."
Keeler said that people did not see caffeine as a potential explanation for their sleeping problems.
"People may not equate coffee or tea drinking with their inability to sleep," she said.
Chapman said that people should
read the labels on their pain relievers and cold medicine as well. Many products contain caffeine and could keep people awake while the products go to work.
Medicine and caffeinated beverages combined could lead to another potential hazard of caffeine consumption — overdose. Chapman said that it was not difficult for students to overdose on caffeine — 250 milligrams of caffeine is considered an overdose.
"The average cup of brewed coffee has 115 milligrams of caffeine," she said. "That means it only takes about two cups of coffee to overdose."
A caffeine overdose is characterized by irritability, increased heart rate, nervous twitch, difficulty sleeping and even psychological disturbance.
However, not everyone will exhibit these symptoms after two cups of coffee. Chapman said.
"The tolerance for caffeine is quite individual," she said. "It varies from person to person."
The same goes for addiction,
Keeler said.
"It is mildly addicting to some," Keeler said. "But some people are helped by it to keep them attentive and alert."
Keeler said that people who had been using caffeine for a long time likely would develop a dependence on it and would have withdrawal symptoms if they decided to stop using it suddenly.
"Tolerance to the effects of the drug do begin to develop, and withdrawal symptoms happen if the person has been using it for a long time." Keeler said.
Both Keeler and Chapman said that people who wanted to cut down on their caffeine intake should reduce their intake gradually.
Caffeine high
Caffeine amounts in popular foods, drinks, and medicine:
Andy Rohrback/KANSAN
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Saving little lungs is aim of legislator's proposal
By Ann Marchand
Kansan staff writer
//www.ukans.edu/home/watkins
If one Kansas legislator gets his wish, cigarette smoking will be prohibited in any public place accessible to minors.
Rep. Ted Powers, R-Mulvane,
has introduced the bill as the
most recent in a long line of anti-
smoking measures.
Powers, who sponsored the law to prohibit smoking in the Capitol building in Topeka, said that it was important to protect young lungs from secondhand smoke. His bill would affect primarily restaurants, hotel and business lobbies, and all ages concerts.
"I don't think it's the community's job to parent the children," said Daniel Thompson, Overland Park senior. "I think it's the parents' job."
dren typically did not smoke, he was concerned that they often did not choose where to eat, and parents could not control secondhand smoke from drifting into a child's lungs.
But smokers at the University of Kansas said that Powers's proposal should not become law.
Powers said that although chil-
"There's quite a push for keeping tobacco products away from the kids, and if you've got them in there, and people are huffing and puffing, it's going to get the kids sick," he said.
Michelle Dennard, Chapman junior, agreed with Powers' reasoning. She said that smokers should be more considerate of people who chose not to damage their respiratory systems.
"I understand the fact that it's limiting people's freedoms to do what they want, but when you're in a public place, you don't have the choice of breathing in smoke-infested air." she said.
Jason Galland, Manhattan freshman, said that he understood the restrictions on smokers, but that it should be up to
individual establishments to determine their own regulations
"I think the restaurants or shows or whatever should be the ones in charge of restricting, not the state," he said.
Brett Mosiman of Pipeline Production, which produces a lot of concerts in the area, said that he didn't think the bill would affect the all-ages shows his company produces.
"We don't make any money off of cigarettes, so it wouldn't affect us," he said. "It punishes the people who are old enough to smoke."
But Powers said that he would remain committed to decreasing the presence of smoke in the air in public places.
"Since I've been up here, I've lost about 10 friends to smoking," he said. "It's probably one of the most sensitive things we've got up here. I've been called a Communist and everything, and all I want to do is clean up the air."
Interest code changes due Friday
By Mark McMaster Kansan staff writer
Students can do this by visiting the CLAS Undergraduate Services office in 109 Strong Hall and fill out a form to change their interest codes.
These codes help the University advise students who have not yet declared a major. Houston will use the codes in the coming weeks to assign advisers and determine the content of individual Academic Record Tracing System forms for fall enrollment.
In order to receive the correct information on these forms, students must change their interest codes before 5 p.m. this Friday.
Some students change majors as often they change their underwear. That's okay, said Pam Houston, director of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate services, but undeclared students need to notify the University when they are testing the fit of a new major.
Houston said that students who do not notify the University when they change prospective majors will miss out on helpful information, including the advising information given on their ARTS form.
In addition, many undergraduate departments send newsletters and mailings to those declaring an interest in the departments' majors, she said.
Some professional schools also rely on the codes for advising.
Jack Fincham, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said he communicated with students who had indicated a pre-pharmacy interest.
"We're sending them a letter and letting them know that we're here to help if they have any questions," he said.
Declaring interest in a major also could qualify a student for various departmental scholarships, Houston said.
In addition, the interest codes help the University to plan future programs by giving departments information about potential students.
"We're sending them a letter and letting them know that we're here to help if they have questions."
Jack Fincham dean, School of Pharmacy
"The deans look at that information from time to time as they are making decisions," Houston said. "It provides some statistics that they can use."
Got a comment? Got a complaint?
This is your University Daily Kansan and we want to hear what you think about it.The first Spring '97 Kansan advisory board meeting will be at 6 p.m. this Thursday in 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall.Remember,we can't make this a better newspaper unless we know what you want.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The Center for Community Outreach presents: Hunger and Homelessness Action Month
The weeks activities include:
- The Hunger Banquet Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 12th & Oread
- Presentation by Micheal Stoops National Coalition for the Homeless Monday, Feb.24 at 7 p.m.
- Informational tables and letter writing campaign Wednesday, Feb. 19, Kansas Union Lobby
To participate, contact the Center for Community Outreach at (913) 864-4073
STUDENT
SENATE
Attention All Students!