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Coffee and Heart Health

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Excess consumption of coffee can have a great impact on the health of an individual. Read the article below to learn more about its effects on the heart.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Isaac Gana

Published At March 10, 2023
Reviewed AtFebruary 28, 2024

Introduction:

Coffee has been a part of humans for about 1000 years. It has stimulated controversy- and a serious debate. Coffee’s negative effects seem to depend on the widespread belief in good taste and its energizing capacity. Coffee is a loved beverage known for its ability to fine-tune and boost energy levels. Many individuals depend on a daily cup of coffee when they wake up. Coffee is also linked with potential health benefits, which is a reason for more brewing.

Along with the benefits, excess consumption of them can seriously affect vital organs and overall health. Coffee increases alertness and stimulates the nervous system. The effects of coffee on the circulatory system are more serious, and information can help to filter out fact from fiction.

What Are the Benefits of Coffee?

Coffee is a great product and is liked by many. It has been part of human life for years. It offers great benefits. The benefits of coffee are:

  • Improves overall health.

  • Protections against migraines and headaches.

  • Controls Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

  • Safeguard for the liver.

  • Lowers mortality risk.

  • Mood enhancer.

  • Reduces melanoma risk.

  • Promotes heart health.

  • Slows the process of dementia.

Individuals who switch some underlying medical conditions should avoid caffeine. Caffeine consumption is directly related to high blood pressure and heart problems, the medicines consumed, over-the-counter supplements, or consumption of stress or anxiety medications. Anything that is consumed more does cause side effects. If Coffee is consumed more than four cups a day then side effects like,

  • Insomnia (lack of sleep).

  • Fast heart rate.

  • Muscle tremors.

  • Irritability.

  • Gastric troubles.

  • Headache.

  • Nervousness.

  • Frequent urination and inability to control urination occur.

What Is the Relation Between Coffee With Hypertension?

Coffee contains caffeine that increases the health of an individual. Although caffeine causes a temporary increase in blood pressure, moderate caffeine intake is safe for individuals with hypertension. Normal regular consumption of caffeinated beverages and coffee does not put non-hypertensive individuals at risk of hypertension. Consuming 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine increases 8.1 mm of Hg systolic blood pressure and 5.7 mm of Hg of diastolic blood pressure. These blood pressure changes are temporary and return to normal in three to four hours, and if there is a history of hypertension or arrhythmia, it is better to keep a watch on caffeine intake.

What Are the Potential Long-Term Effects of Coffee on Hypertension?

Coffee may increase blood pressure temporarily, that is, right after consuming it. The effect does not extend for long and subsides within a short period of time. Individuals with high blood pressure are unlikely to impact hypertension or overall heart disease significantly.

  • Coffee does provide some health benefits.

  • Research indicates consuming three to five cups of coffee daily has the capacity to reduce heart Improves overall disease risk and lower the risk of premature death.

  • Multiple bioactive compounds have a strong antioxidant effect and reduce oxidative stress in the body.

  • Coffee’s health benefits can outweigh caffeine's potential negative effects for individuals who consume it regularly.

  • More research is required to understand coffee's long-term effects on human health. Mostly it appears to be a perfectly safe and useful habit on a daily basis.

In What Conditions Should Coffee Intake Be Restricted?

If any of the following symptoms exist, skipping and restricting morning coffee intake is better.

Conditions like:

  • Difficulty sleeping.

  • Anxiety.

  • Muscle tremors and shakiness.

  • Palpation or racing heart.

  • Diarrhea, acid reflux, or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux syndrome).

Minimize or avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages during pregnancy, try to conceive, or take medications that interact with caffeine, like antidepressants, antibiotics, or asthma medications. Caffeine has the capacity to increase levels of anxiety.

How Much Caffeine Intake Is Risky?

Individuals who consume coffee containing caffeine should not exceed 400 mg. This is approximately 4 cups of coffee, which is plenty for an average adult. Consuming slightly more than this amount can lead to problems and consequences. Exceeding 1200 mg of caffeine daily can seriously affect overall health, even leading to seizures.

How Does Caffeine Overdose Affect Health?

Caffeine overdose is a rare consequence. Too much caffeine can affect the health by following symptoms:

  • Irregular heartbeat.

  • Vomiting.

  • Shakiness (small episodes of uncontrolled movements that are caused by weakness, ill health, and nervous system weakening).

  • Confusion (uncertainty about what is happening, required, or intended).

  • Panic attack (sudden episodes of intense fear which may trigger severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause).

Contact the health care provider immediately if any of the above symptoms are felt by taking excess caffeine.

What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Coffee?

Weaning off coffee intake- especially with a long-time consumption habit of coffee can experience withdrawal symptoms like:

  • Fatigue.

  • Irritability.

  • Headache.

  • Irritability.

What Are Alternatives to Coffee?

Some alternatives that can be consumed instead of coffee are:

  • Maca: the plant helps in enhancing mental focus. A few scoops of maca in smoothies can help in increasing taste and boost alertness.

  • Ginseng Tea: Replenishing drink. Sharpens the mind and is a great alternative to caffeine. Though ginseng has some side effects, consult your provider before consuming them.

  • Chicory Root “coffee”: Chicory coffee tastes similar to regular coffee but without the effects of caffeine. It improves bowel movement and delays the onset of diabetes.

  • Golden Milk: Best Indian beverage when nondairy milk is combined with turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger. Not only does this milk taste great but also helps in reducing inflammation or upset stomach.

  • Peppermint Tea: this refreshing tea can boost energy and can serve as the best morning drink.

Conclusion

High coffee consumption of around four or more cups a day can aggravate hypertension, especially in women. The risk of hypertension is lower in coffee abstainers. Proven control trials for a short duration of around one to two weeks and then a coffee intake of five cups a day led to a small hike in blood pressure when compared with abstinence or the use of decaffeinated beverages. Though other substances, like soluble fiber, polyphenols, and potassium, benefit the cardiovascular system, excess consumption is not recommended to avoid its risk of increasing hypertension.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

Is Coffee Intake Beneficial for Heart Health?

While there is a profound concern regarding the links between caffeine and heart health, the major findings say that a moderate quantity of tea or coffee must be fine for most people. Moreover, drinking about two to three cups of coffee daily is associated with maintaining a healthy heart, according to the American College of Cardiology. So, most studies say drinking one or more cups of coffee daily might decrease the risk of heart failure by about thirty percent.

2.

Can One Drink Coffee After a Heart Attack?

There is still a debate about whether coffee is good or bad. And, many more studies are looking at whether taking coffee following a heart attack is good or bad. Certain research findings suggest that drinking one cup of coffee a day might help lower the risk of death following a heart attack in the case of heart attack survivors. So, patients with cardiac events can be allowed to have caffeinated beverages.

3.

Does Coffee Affect the Cholesterol Level?

Coffee does not constitute any cholesterol, but it can influence the cholesterol levels in the system. Although brewed coffee has no cholesterol content, it has certain natural oils containing chemical substances called kahweol and cafestol. These compounds can increase cholesterol levels. Moreover, several clinical studies have shown that persistent coffee drinkers have reported increased cholesterol levels.

4.

Does Coffee Have Benefits for the Heart and Liver?

The association between caffeine intake and heart health has been a major concern. For most individuals, it is recommended to incorporate moderate quantities of coffee into the healthy diet plan. Certain clinical findings say that a moderate coffee intake of about two to four cups a day is associated with a lower possibility of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver cancers, and depression. Drinking coffee can decrease the risk of cardiovascular events by about fifteen percent and helps protect individuals with liver concerns.

5.

Who Should Not Take Caffeine?

The following population should consider not taking caffeine as it could lead to potential risks.


- Adolescents and young adults.


- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.


- People with overactive bladders.


- People with Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS).


- People with glaucoma.


- Seizure.


- People who are more prone to anxiety.

6.

Is Coffee Considered Bad for Hypertension?

The study findings describe that caffeine might lead to short and dramatic raise in blood pressure even in individuals who do not have blood pressure. Also, caffeine increases blood pressure to an extent that could be large enough to intervene with the accurate measurement. Drinking more than four cups of coffee might raise blood pressure. So, consider cutting down the tea, coffee, and caffeine-related beverages.

7.

Will Coffee Affect Kidneys?

Scientific research has not revealed that drinking three to four cups of coffee daily raises the risk of kidney disease or kidney function decline. Nevertheless, drinking a moderate quantity of coffee is a good idea. Specifically, individuals struggling with controlling blood pressure should take at most two to three cups a day.

8.

What Are the Potential Side Effects of Coffee?

Moderate amounts of caffeine or coffee intake is considered good for most people. But, too much caffeine can cause the following health problems.


- Insomnia.


- Headaches.


- Dizziness.


- Restlessness.


- Shakiness.


- Dehydration.


- Anxiety.


- Rapid heart rate.


- Increased blood pressure.


- Dependency on coffee.

9.

What Is the Effect of Drinking Coffee Daily?

Drinking coffee daily has both advantages and disadvantages. However, one must consider drinking a moderate quantity of coffee of one to two cups daily. But, drinking more than four cups of coffee is potentially harmful and unsafe. Drinking a large quantity of coffee daily might cause certain side effects due to its caffeine content.

10.

Which Kind of Coffee Is Best for the Health?

The experts and healthcare providers would recommend brewing the coffee with a paper filter as unfiltered coffee can be associated with increased early death rates. The unfiltered one also constitutes compounds that increase Low-Density Lipid (LDL) cholesterol levels. Moreover, The safest and healthier way to make coffee is black and hot-brewed.

11.

Which Kind of Coffee Is Best for the Health?

The experts and healthcare providers would recommend brewing the coffee with a paper filter as unfiltered coffee can be associated with increased early death rates. The unfiltered one also constitutes compounds that increase Low-Density Lipid (LDL) cholesterol levels. Moreover, The safest and healthier way to make coffee is black and hot-brewed.

12.

Which Kind of Coffee Is Best for the Health?

The experts and healthcare providers would recommend brewing the coffee with a paper filter as unfiltered coffee can be associated with increased early death rates. The unfiltered one also constitutes compounds that increase Low-Density Lipid (LDL) cholesterol levels. Moreover, The safest and healthier way to make coffee is black and hot-brewed.

13.

Which Kind of Coffee Is Best for the Health?

The experts and healthcare providers would recommend brewing the coffee with a paper filter as unfiltered coffee can be associated with increased early death rates. The unfiltered one also constitutes compounds that increase Low-Density Lipid (LDL) cholesterol levels. Moreover, The safest and healthier way to make coffee is black and hot-brewed.

14.

Is Coffee Considered Good for Fatty Liver?

Overall, clinical studies say that coffee is considered good for liver health since it helps protect individuals who have liver disease. The findings signify that coffee is more helpful in the case of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease occurs as a result of the accumulation of buildup of excess fat in the liver cells. The benefits of coffee in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are due to the antioxidant capacity of coffee.

15.

What Are the Possible Disadvantages of Black Coffee?

Black coffee does not seem to have many disadvantages when taken in moderation. But it can cause specific side effects.


More amounts of black coffee may increase the levels of stress hormones in the body, causing stress and anxiety.


Excess consumption of black coffee can cause acidity in the stomach.


Excessive black coffee intake can potentially influence and mess up the sleeping routine.

16.

Can Coffee Affect One’s Mental Health?

Clinical studies suggest that moderate caffeine consumption has been potentially associated with fewer depression symptoms, less cognitive decline, and a lower risk of suicide. However, more than five cups of coffee in a day might bring about worsening symptoms like agitation, anxiety, headache, excitement, and rambling speech due to coffee intoxication. Moreover, certain mental disorders can be triggered or worsened by increased caffeine consumption.

17.

Does Coffee Increase Blood Sugar?

Caffeine intake does not affect the blood sugar levels in most younger and healthier adults. However, in older adults or people with diabetes, caffeine can cause a projection in the blood glucose (sugar) concentration. This is because caffeine triggers or precipitates a hormonal response in the body. In another way, coffee could increase the body’s resistance to insulin.

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Dr. Isaac Gana
Dr. Isaac Gana

Cardiology

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