Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, but there is no evidence of a long-term connection. Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is safe for those with hypertension, but switching to decaf is recommended. Other factors, such as smoking and lack of exercise, are more likely to raise blood pressure. Caffeine tolerance reduces the short-term connection.
Caffeine can cause blood pressure to rise dramatically for a short time. Drinking two to three cups of regular coffee can raise a person’s systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 3 to 14 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This is temporary, however, and blood pressure returns to normal after two to three hours. In the long run, there’s no evidence to suggest there’s a connection between coffee and high blood pressure.
Drinking caffeinated coffee is not associated with a substantially increased risk for those with high blood pressure or hypertension. For long-term coffee drinkers, there is little effect on blood pressure, but if this difference is important, switching to decaffeinated coffee is recommended. Caffeine is also present in other beverages, such as some energy drinks and soft drinks.
If blood pressure has increased by 10 to 200 points within half an hour of coffee intake, a sensitivity to the blood pressure-raising effects of caffeine can be assumed. In this case, cutting back on caffeine makes sense. Consuming no more than two average cups of brewed coffee per day, equal to XNUMX milligrams of caffeine, should limit the connection between coffee and high blood pressure. Caffeine should also be avoided before starting any activity that raises blood pressure, such as exercise, for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
Exactly why there is a connection between coffee and high blood pressure, however mild and short-lived, is still unknown. One theory is that caffeine blocks a hormone that ensures arteries stay wide, resulting in blood vessels constricting. Another theory is that caffeine causes the release of adrenaline, which makes the heart beat faster and raises blood pressure.
Other factors, such as smoking, lack of exercise and overeating, are more likely to raise blood pressure. These behaviors are more likely to be indulged by ardent coffee drinkers than those who don’t indulge too much. It’s probably not the coffee to blame, though, it’s the cigarette, biscuits, or other items that accompany the coffee that lead to high blood pressure.
Caffeine tolerance reduces the short-term connection between coffee and high blood pressure. A greater effect on blood pressure was found in those who drink one to three cups of coffee a day, compared to those who drink six or more. While there is no substantial link between coffee and high blood pressure, however, a lot of caffeine can have detrimental effects on cholesterol levels.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
