Caffeine After Concussion: Coffee, Tea, and PCS (with Dr. Paul Hrkal)

Описание: Can patients with persistent concussion symptoms (PCS) drink coffee? What about green tea, matcha, or decaf? In this practical session delivered to Concussion Fix members, Dr. Paul Hrkal (ND) explains how caffeine interacts with adenosine, sleep pressure, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

What you’ll learn:

1. Caffeine basics: adenosine receptor blockade, alertness vs. working-memory tradeoffs, half-life (~4–5h) and why late-day caffeine hurts sleep

2. PCS context: why stimulants can aggravate sympathetic overdrive, anxiety, and insomnia—and when a morning cup may still be reasonable

3. Coffee vs. tea: caffeine + L-theanine (tea) and why many patients tolerate tea better

4. Decaf details: chemical vs. Swiss water decaffeination; what changes and what doesn’t

5. Quality pitfalls: pesticides in tea, potential mycotoxins in coffee, and how “organic” helps

6. Dosing & timing: morning-only guidelines, tapering to avoid withdrawal headaches, and spotting caffeine “dependence” as a red flag for diet/HPA-axis issues

7. Smart swaps: matcha/Sencha rotation, choosing non-dairy milks (oat/coconut/almond) wisely, sugars to avoid and better options (e.g., date sugar), plus simple ritual-preserving alternatives

8. Hydration myth-busting: does coffee dehydrate you?

To learn more about the online Concussion Fix program for PCS recovery visit: https://www.concussionfix.com/

For concussion training for clinicians, visit: https://completeconcussions.com/concu...