Coffee takes the first place among the most popular drinks in the world. And the question of whether caffeine affects the heart, has long been discussed both among scientists and coffee drinkers. The invigorating beverage can bring both benefit and harm to the cardiovascular system.
Effect of caffeine on the heart
Probably the best known negative effect of caffeine on the heart is an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which is due to the direct action of the alkaloid.
Caffeine, being a central nervous system and brain stimulant, speeds up certain physical reactions, as well as stimulating the heart and dilating blood vessels.
What is the effect of caffeine on the heart: the main factors?
Coffee can both benefit the cardiovascular system and provoke the appearance of symptoms of chronic diseases. The impact depends on several factors:
- Amount of caffeine. In moderate consumption, caffeine has a positive effect on the heart, but in large quantities it excites the nervous system, increases blood pressure and accelerates the pulse.
- Individual sensitivity. Some people are hypersensitive to caffeine, so even small amounts of caffeine cause the heart to race and blood pressure to rise.
- Age and chronic disease. These factors play a role in how old you can drink coffee and to what age. For example, older people have a slower metabolism, so it takes longer for caffeine to be eliminated from the body. In addition, some heart diseases and coffee are incompatible, as in hypertension or arrhythmia, the invigorating beverage can increase the symptoms.
What are the benefits of caffeine for the heart?
The positive effect of coffee on the heart is due to the fact that it contains large amounts of antioxidants and other useful chemical components. When consumed in moderation, the invigorating beverage has such benefits for the cardiovascular system:
- helps to eliminate free radicals and reduce oxidative processes, resulting in a reduced risk of chronic heart and vascular diseases;
- improves blood circulation by dilating blood vessels;
- strengthens blood vessels and prevents atherosclerosis;
- maintains blood pressure.
It is also believed that coffee reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes, and on its background often develop heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.
When can caffeine be bad for your heart?
Although the popular invigorating beverage has a high antioxidant content, it can be harmful to your health if consumed in large quantities:
- Increased blood pressure. Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, especially in people who rarely drink coffee. And such an effect can be dangerous for patients with hypertension.
- Arrhythmias. Since caffeine stimulates the nervous system and adrenaline production, causing heart activity, it can provoke heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation.
- Tachycardia. Excessive coffee consumption leads to an increase in heart rate, which creates an additional load on the heart.
- Increased levels of “bad” cholesterol. Unfiltered coffee, such as espresso, contains cafestol and kahweol. These substances can increase the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which can cause atherosclerosis.
The effect of coffee on the cardiovascular system depending on the number of cups drunk per day is shown in the table below. In the presence of coronary artery disease and other chronic diseases, it is better to consult a cardiologist to prevent the development of complications.
How do different types of coffee drinks affect the heart?
Different types of coffee affect the heart in different ways. For example, espresso sharply increases blood pressure due to the high concentration of caffeine, which puts additional strain on the cardiovascular system. Americano does not affect in a similar way, as it is characterized by a higher concentration of water.
Milk and sweet coffee drinks have a high calorie content due to the addition of milk or cream, sugar and syrup, so if consumed regularly, they can negatively affect the cardiovascular system. Filtered coffee is considered safer for people with chronic heart disorders, as it does not contain substances that contribute to an increase in blood cholesterol levels.
How and how much coffee is safe to drink for heart health?
Caffeine and the cardiovascular system “get along” well if you follow simple recommendations:
- Do not drink too much coffee. The norm for a healthy body is 3-4 cups. If there are heart or vascular disorders, reduce the dosage of the invigorating drink to 1-2 cups.
- Give preference to filtered coffee, because it has less cholesterol-raising substances.
- Do not consume an invigorating drink in the evening, as it will lead to sleep disturbance, and the lack of a normal night’s rest will negatively affect the heart.
- Observe the reaction of the body. If after coffee there is a headache or trembling in the hands, heart rate increases, reduces its amount or reduces the strength.
In the presence of cardiovascular disease, the permissible amount of an invigorating beverage should be discussed with a doctor. Decaffeinated coffee can be an alternative. It contains a large amount of antioxidants, but it does not cause stimulation of the central nervous system.
How to make coffee even healthier for your heart
In order for coffee to have only a positive effect on the heart, it is recommended to refuse sugar, syrups and other sweeteners.
If you can not drink an unsweetened drink, you can add a little natural honey, but not in boiling water, so that it does not lose its useful substances. It is not recommended to add sweetened cream and butter to the drink. But cinnamon or turmeric will not only give coffee a spicy flavor note, but also enhance antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties.
The effect of caffeine on the heart: myths and reality
There are quite a few myths about the effect of coffee on the heart. Here are the most popular of them:
- Coffee is bad for the heart and causes myocardial infarction. Moderate coffee consumption (1-3 cups per day) does not increase the risk of heart attack in healthy people. On the contrary, studies show that the antioxidants in this beverage can reduce inflammation and keep blood vessels healthy.
- Coffee always disrupts sleep and negatively affects the heart. Caffeine can indeed disrupt sleep, which indirectly affects heart health. To avoid such problems, all you need to do is to avoid the invigorating beverage in the afternoon and evening.
- Coffee causes high cholesterol levels. Indeed, unfiltered coffee contains substances that can increase cholesterol levels. But for the development of a pathological process, you need to consume this drink on a regular basis in large quantities. To exclude possible risks, you can switch to filtered coffee.
