There are many things that can cause decreases in alertness, some of which are more serious health concerns than others. General fatigue can reduce alertness and the body's ability to react, but often this is more a lifestyle concern than a health concern, though prolonged periods of inadequate rest can lead to a number of different health concerns. Alertness is generally increased through increased rest, improved quality of rest, or stimulants during the day to provide immediate boosts.
Caffeine is the most common stimulant that one will take to increase alertness. Caffeine enters the body and increases adrenaline concentrations in the blood. Adrenaline is the common name for the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones are normally metabolized by the liver and excreted as levels increase, limiting the stimulant potential except in moments where the flight or fight mechanism is activated, when adrenaline production skyrockets and gives the body a surge of energy. Caffeine inhibits the metabolism of adrenaline, thereby elevating the levels in the blood and increasing systemic stimulation.
Caffeine also passes the blood brain barrier and binds to adenosine receptor sites. Adenosine, when not bound to phosphates for cellular energy, is a neurotransmitter that generally limits the body's ability to stimulate. It is a chemical that basically limits the amount of alertness one can experience. By binding to the receptor sites, the body becomes inefficient in bringing the energy level down. The brain does overcompensate greater than caffeine intake can be increased by creating more receptor sites for adenosine, and when caffeine supplementation is ceased, the increased ability of function for adenosine can cause crashing and severe headaches.
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