For far too many people, caffeine is a daily necessity to banish fatigue, and improve focus and productivity. In fact, recent studies have praised caffeine for encouraging better decision making. But how much caffeine is too much?

4 cups of coffee a day seems to be the tipping point for most people.

Consuming more than 500–600mg of caffeine (about 4 cups of coffee) often causes more harm than good, with known side effects such as insomnia, irritability, restlessness, stomach upset, muscle tremors. Each individual however, has a different tolerance to caffeine. For some, a small cup of coffee is enough to keep them up all night. And if you are not getting enough sleep, too much caffeine can keep you from falling asleep, causing a vicious cycle of never-ending fatigue. Simply put, caffeine is a great thing to have in your daily routine, until it starts causing you health problems. As everyone reacts differently to caffeine, what’s most important is that you are mindful about the amount you consume—and cut back when you have to.   Your Health Matters is a series of educational newsletters and public health seminars and talks brought to you by The Medical Concierge Group, to get you the best in healthcare. All you need to do is ask.