by MDGovpics

Question by Crazy_person: Why does caffeine inhibit the normal negative feedback of the heart rate recovery after exercise?
I found that the heart rate didnt decrease a lot in recovery when a person had consumed caffeine. Normally the heart rate decreases to a certain point, then negative feedback kicks in and increases it slightly until the process eventually returns the heart rate to normal.
Is this right? And why does caffeine inhibit negative feedback?

Best answer:

Answer by kt
Both caffeine and exercise cause an increase in heart rate. In a normal, healthy young person, the effects of exercise are lost within about a minute of when exercise stops, because the sympathetic nervous system, and what Vander calls the “exercise center” in the brain are no longer stimulated. However, caffeine has a much longer residence time in the body, and since it is a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant, it would keep the heart rate elevated even after exercise stopped.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!