Coffee and blood pressure. How does coffee affect blood pressure - does it increase or decrease it? Coffee increases blood pressure

Among the many pleasures in life, there are some that are simply impossible to refuse. You can limit yourself to sweets and not sleep until lunch, but prohibiting yourself from enjoying the taste and aroma of freshly brewed coffee is an impossible task. If you are one of the ardent fans of this magical drink, then you are probably familiar with the effect it has on the heart and blood vessels. And if, despite this, you still treat yourself to a daily cup of hot espresso, then you understand the true essence of pleasure. And it lies in the fact that true joy always gives more benefit than harm.

However, health cannot be completely neglected. And it directly depends on the condition of the heart muscle and the circulatory system as a whole. And although the lack of a direct connection between drinking coffee and the development of hypertension has already been scientifically proven, a certain reaction from the blood vessels still occurs. It is difficult to clearly judge whether coffee brings more harm or benefit. Like two sides of the same coin, it combines properties that can sometimes lead to opposite results. But the truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle. And it depends on who, how and in what quantities drinks a cup of coffee.

Benefits of coffee
It is not for nothing that mentions of coffee are so often accompanied by the epithet “invigorating”. This drink, that is, coffee beans as the raw material for its preparation, contains alkaloids (mainly caffeine, as well as small amounts of guaranine and mateine). These compounds have the ability to dilate blood vessels. As a result, the myocardium begins to work more intensely, and at this moment we feel an acceleration of the heartbeat, which continues for some time.

During this time, you do not feel drowsy, and your performance, both physical and mental, increases. These processes are accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. That’s why for chronic hypotensive people, coffee is almost the only available way to wake up in the morning. Although, to be fair, it should be noted that strong tea, which also contains a lot of caffeine, also has a similar effect.

An increase in blood pressure after drinking coffee entails an increase in the overall tone of the body and activation of metabolism. Energy production is boosted, and we feel a surge of strength and optimism. The effect of caffeine on nervous and mental activity allows doctors to prescribe it as part of complex therapy for migraines, anemia and depression. In addition, it provokes a surge in the production of adrenaline and dopamine, which also promote activity and improve mood.

Among the others positive points It is worth paying attention to the benefits of coffee for asthmatics. By expanding the pulmonary vesicles, it stimulates the areas of the brain responsible for regulating breathing. Some studies have shown that it also reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. And, of course, one cannot fail to mention the antioxidant properties of coffee. Thanks to them, this drink has established itself as a means of prevention. oncological diseases, especially the digestive and internal secretion organs. Having a beneficial effect on the production of gastric juice, it is indicated as a permanent component of the menu for people with low acidity.

Harm from coffee
Despite all the advantages listed above, caffeine still remains a fairly strong psychostimulant, and therefore should not be abused in any case. Immediately after consumption it activates everything vitality body, sharpens vision and hearing, accelerates heart rate. But after some time, the natural “pendulum effect” sets in with all the ensuing consequences. In other words, where something has expanded, it will certainly narrow back - this is exactly what happens to blood vessels within 40 minutes after drinking coffee. Vibrating too frequently over a long period of time can gradually deplete nerve cells.

Heartbeat, accelerated by caffeine, increases the general excitability of the nervous system, preventing you from relaxing and falling asleep. This is a direct path to guaranteed insomnia, especially for people with hypertension, angina pectoris and an overly mobile psyche. In addition, vasodilation in the kidneys interferes with the process of reabsorption in the renal tubules. Hence the diuretic effect of coffee, in some cases leading to dehydration of the body.

The sensitivity of the brain's receptors to caffeine is so strong that over time they can change, adapting to its perception. An addiction forms, due to which the effect of coffee gradually decreases. However, in the event of a sudden cessation of caffeine intake, a painful lack of it is felt, accompanied by inhibition of reactions from the nervous system, fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, even depressive states.

Looking for a compromise
As you can see, there is no silver lining, and vice versa. In the case of coffee, this results in certain physiological reactions to its use and, of course, the formation of many social myths around this drink. The most popular of them is about the ability of coffee to increase arterial pressure for each and everyone, and especially for those for whom it is already high. In practice, it turns out that coffee does affect blood pressure, but not quite as much or even not at all as is commonly believed and feared.

In patients with hypotension, coffee can perk up a little, but not so much that a significant therapeutic effect is noticeable. It is contraindicated for hypertensive patients only in the evenings, and only because increasing tone is of no use before bedtime. Contrary to popular belief, even the strongest coffee in the morning and throughout the day will not aggravate their condition, but will only support it. As for people with normal blood pressure, their reaction to a flavored drink is more psychological than physiological. It exists, and is quite noticeable, but has little connection with the cardiovascular system.

And finally, coffee beans contain a lot of potassium, which normalizes the activity of the heart muscle and strengthens it. With regular moderate consumption, coffee not only stabilizes blood pressure, but can also protect against myocardial infarction. But, if this does not convince you of its usefulness, then you can soften the effect of coffee by adding low-fat milk to a cup. And do not forget that all of the above applies exclusively to coffee brewed from natural ground beans. All instant drinks, and especially semi-finished coffee products and “2 in 1” and “3 in 1” mixes, have little in common with real coffee and have a completely different effect on the body.

Many people start a new day with a cup of coffee. Previously, people drank coffee in the morning to cheer up.

But today, almost everyone who drinks coffee drinks it throughout the day.

As a result, they drink about two or three cups per day. This begs the question: How does coffee affect blood pressure and the condition of the body as a whole?

For many years, people believed that coffee raised blood pressure. But long research in modern medicine, determined that coffee affects each body differently. It is not uncommon for coffee to reduce.

It all depends on his individual capabilities. After conducting numerous experiments, experts determined that after drinking a cup of coffee, some people began to feel more energetic and energetic, and their performance increased.

But for others it was the other way around: they became lethargic and wanted to sleep. As for blood pressure, drinking coffee increases it. But there have also been cases when it decreased. At the moment, doctors cannot accurately answer this question.

Until now, there is debate among experts about how coffee affects blood pressure. Experiments are a short-term phenomenon, but to answer this question, long studies are needed, which can last a year, two, or even a decade. Only then will it be possible to determine how coffee affects the body.

The effect of coffee on blood pressure

Many studies have proven that the effect of coffee on blood pressure varies for everyone. The experiments carried out yielded interesting conclusions, for example:

• If a completely healthy person drinks coffee, then blood pressure indicators practically do not change.
• If a coffee drinker is diagnosed with hypertension, the blood pressure often rises to a critical level. In turn, this can lead to stroke or myocardial infarction.
• In 20% of people participating in the experiment, blood pressure dropped, but not by much.
• If you drink coffee regularly, the body adapts to caffeine, and perhaps in the future it will stop reacting to it altogether.

So, having drawn conclusions, we can answer the pressing question: “Is it possible to drink coffee with high blood pressure?” It is possible, but only in moderation.

Does coffee increase blood pressure?

People who love coffee are often interested in the question: Is it allowed to drink coffee with high blood pressure? Coffee mainly consists of caffeine (a natural stimulant). Caffeine is found not only in coffee, but also in most other products. But people consume coffee and tea more often, and caffeine enters the body this way. Regardless of the route of entry, caffeine increases blood pressure in any case.

Due to the fact that recently people have increasingly begun to abuse this drink, it has become easier for doctors to study its effect on blood pressure.

Once in the body, it begins to stimulate the central nervous system. That is why people drink it when they feel tired, lack of sleep, in case low blood pressure. Also with the aim of improving mental activity. If there is a high concentration of caffeine in the body, the blood vessels begin to spasm, and because of this, the pressure may rise.

In the central nervous system, endogenous nucleotide adenosine is synthesized, which is involved in the process of falling asleep, healthy sleep and reduces activity later in the day.

If this element were not present in the body, then a person could be active for several days in a row. And this would lead to exhaustion and exhaustion of the body. This substance regulates a person’s need for rest and proper sleep.

Caffeine blocks the metabolism of adenosine, which stimulates brain activity, and at the same time increases blood pressure. In addition, the adrenal glands stimulate an excess of adrenaline in the blood, which can also cause an increase in blood pressure.

Based on these criteria, scientists concluded that if you regularly drink coffee, persistent high blood pressure develops, which initially had normal values.

But on the one hand, these are not correct conclusions. Recent experiments have confirmed that if an absolutely healthy person regularly drinks coffee, then blood pressure rises very slowly, but if a person has a predisposition to hypertension, then the process accelerates several times. Therefore, in such cases, coffee actually increases blood pressure. They also proved that blood pressure increases after drinking three cups of coffee.

Does coffee lower blood pressure?

Let's remember the experiments that we have already considered. We found that blood pressure in healthy people increases less frequently after drinking coffee, and in cases of hypertension it increases more often and more severely. But the high blood pressure does not last long. Also, the results of experiments showed that in 20% of people, drinking two or three cups of coffee lowers blood pressure. Why does this happen? Doctors explain this by saying:

• blood pressure and coffee do not have such a strong connection with each other as was previously believed. Modern research have proven that if you drink coffee for a long time and regularly, the body begins to get used to it, regardless of the dose. That is, the body no longer has such stress, and it is resistant to caffeine. Therefore, in such cases, coffee reduces blood pressure. One experiment showed that people coffee drinkers are at risk of developing hypertension. At the same time, another experiment showed that people who drink coffee regularly and in moderation are at risk. This happens because the body gets used to caffeine. that is, the body no longer pays attention to it as a cause of high blood pressure.
• Every person's body is different, and blood pressure reacts differently to coffee. This is also influenced by genetic predisposition, the functioning of the central nervous system, and the presence of other pathologies. In every organism, there is a gene responsible for the breakdown of caffeine. For some people it goes faster, for others it goes slower. Therefore, blood pressure rises almost because of one drop of coffee, while for others two or three cups will have no effect.

Is it possible to drink coffee if you have hypertension?

Many people are interested in whether it is possible to drink coffee while high blood pressure? In this case, it will be better if the person refuses it. If this is not possible, then it is better to reduce the number of cups you drink per day. People often drink instant coffee to relieve fatigue and cheer up. But in this case, it is better to drink natural, as it is more easily accepted by the body and blood vessels. In addition, it is tastier and more aromatic, but the instant version has more effect.

Some tips for coffee lovers:

1. Coffee hypertensive patients are allowed to drink no more than two cups of coffee per day. This dose will not harm your health.
2. Drinking coffee is allowed for healthy people or those with low blood pressure.
3. It's better not to drink coffee at night. It is strictly forbidden to drink coffee for people who suffer from insomnia. It is better to drink coffee in the morning or after lunch, it will make you more energetic and improve your mental and physical condition.
4. When the body is tired and requires rest, drinking a cup of coffee will not give a positive result.

Coffee gives a person vigor and speeds up the blood circulation process. This has a positive effect on your well-being and ability to concentrate.

What to choose: green tea or natural coffee

Most people believe that coffee is not suitable for hypertension, but it is better to replace it with green tea. But this is an absolutely wrong statement. As we said above, you need to know moderation in everything. And if you drink coffee in moderation, it will not negatively affect your blood pressure. Even with stage 2 hypertension, doctors allow you to drink one cup of coffee a day. At the same time, tea also contains a sufficient amount of caffeine, especially green tea.

Drinking tea, like coffee, can increase blood pressure, or vice versa, reduce it. Therefore, if you still choose tea, then also carefully monitor the amount you drink, how strong it is, and how it affects blood pressure. Hypotensive patients are allowed to drink coffee and tea, as they normalize blood pressure. Just remember that we were talking about loose leaf tea, and not about tea dust in a disposable bag.

If you notice that after drinking a cup of coffee your body somehow reacts incorrectly to it, then try replacing it with tea, just so that it is weakly brewed. This may help stabilize blood pressure.

Those people who like to pamper themselves in the morning and not only with a cup of strong, aromatic drink are often interested in the question - does coffee increase or decrease blood pressure?

Is it possible to drink coffee if you have hypertension? And how does black tea affect a person’s blood pressure?

Coffee drinks increase blood pressure - many are sure of this, and if they feel imaginary symptoms of allegedly low blood pressure (drowsiness, lethargy, fatigue), immediately drink a large cup of strong, hot coffee to normalize it.

Or vice versa, if a person has high blood pressure, he denies himself the pleasure of enjoying a portion of his favorite espresso or latte.

How does coffee affect a person?

How does coffee actually work - does blood pressure increase or decrease with regular consumption? Or does it have no effect on blood pressure at all? Numerous studies have proven that a hot drink made from coffee beans does affect blood pressure, but in a slightly different way than is commonly believed.

In coffee beans large quantities contains caffeine, a substance that is one of the most powerful natural stimulants. Tea also contains caffeine, but not in such quantities, so tea is less invigorating.

Caffeine itself has a greater effect on the central nervous system than on the cardiovascular system. This explains the strong stimulating effect of coffee.

Central nervous system human produces adenosine - this active substance participates in numerous metabolic processes in the body, and in addition transmits nerve impulses to brain receptors responsible for suppressing activity. The more actively adenosine is produced, the faster a person gets tired, his performance decreases, and drowsiness appears.

Caffeine is able to suppress the production of adenosine, the receptors do not receive impulses about fatigue and the need to rest, therefore, a person feels more alert and active. This explains the stimulating effect of a serving of Americano, mocha or cappuccino.

But when high content caffeine in one serving of a drink - for example, a double espresso - may cause short-term vasospasm. And this actually entails a slight increase in blood pressure and the first symptoms of high blood pressure appear in women, for example.

In addition, caffeine stimulates intense adrenaline production. This substance also increases performance, as if opening a second wind. But at the same time, blood pressure also increases - not for long. The maximum concentration of caffeine is reached 45 minutes after entering the stomach. Then it declines, and after two hours the pressure returns to its original values.

But: if a person drinks coffee regularly and a lot, over time the levels will decrease more and more slowly, which can lead to persistent high blood pressure. Especially if after that he goes to sunbathe or go to the sauna.

The effect of caffeine depends on several factors:

• What was the pressure initially?
• How many servings of the drink did the person drink;
• How often and what concentration of coffee does he drink?

If a person is healthy and does not have arterial hypertension, then a cup of coffee in the morning and another one at lunch will have virtually no significant effect on his blood pressure. An increase may occur, but very slowly, and it will take years before one can speak of pathologically elevated blood pressure.

Another thing is that along with coffee cups, cognac often appears on the table and a pack of cigarettes or cigars is opened. And in the morning after drinking coffee, many go to sunbathe. This combination affects blood pressure much more sharply, and in this case we can talk about a serious risk of rapid development of arterial hypertension. But it’s not just coffee that’s to blame.

Everyone talks about caffeine's ability to increase blood pressure. But they forget that it is also a diuretic. That is why, if the pressure is normal and a person drinks 1-2 servings of coffee, his blood vessels will dilate, and in combination with the diuretic effect, the pressure not only does not rise, it decreases, as fluid is removed from the body and blood circulation accelerates.

It is also worth knowing that the more coffee a person drinks, the less his body reacts to caffeine. This substance is not a narcotic, but its effects are similar to a drug - it becomes addictive.

That is, if the drink is drunk once a day in the morning or a person drinks coffee extremely rarely, then, if necessary, an additional portion will really invigorate him and give him strength.

If 3 or more cups are consumed per day, the person will no longer feel any stimulating effect - except perhaps headache and nausea.

What about those people who have already been diagnosed with arterial hypertension? Do they really need to drink only tea, or can they sometimes have coffee, but only with milk, and under no circumstances sunbathe or take a steam bath after that?

If healthy person Drinking coffee contributes to a slight and slow increase in blood pressure, but in hypertensive patients this process goes faster. At the same time, the result of an experiment conducted by Spanish scientists is interesting. According to this experiment, 15% of hypertensive volunteers experienced an increase and a decrease in blood pressure after drinking coffee.

It is noteworthy that some people generally react to drinking espresso in the opposite way - they feel lethargic, have slow reactions, feel sleepy, and may feel restless. headache. It is obvious that the primary role in the influence of caffeine on the human body is played not by blood pressure indicators, but by its individual characteristics.

Doctors say: if you drink no more than 300 ml of a moderate-strength drink per day, there is no harm to the body, even with hypertension. It matters in what form the coffee is consumed.

1. Black increases blood pressure the most.
2. Cappuccino and other types with milk or cream are not as harsh.
3. Lemon reduces blood pressure and acts as an immunostimulant for colds, much more effective than traditional lemon tea.

Hypertensive patients are advised to choose varieties that do not contain much caffeine; coarse grinding is better than fine grinding. How the coffee is brewed also plays a role. If you want to reduce the caffeine content, then preference should be given not to drip coffee makers, but to a Turk or espresso machine.

As for tea, black tea contains even more caffeine than coffee beans, and therefore dilates blood vessels, tones and invigorates much faster and more intensely. The difference is that the caffeine that tea contains is slightly different in composition, its effect is milder, but longer lasting.

Patients suffering from arterial hypertension can safely drink weak black tea with sugar, lemon or milk - the pressure will not suffer from this, and may even decrease slightly. If you want to quickly normalize blood pressure, then you should give preference to green and white teas.

Both coffee and tea are the most popular hot drinks in globe. They are drunk all over the world. But, nevertheless, there are still many myths about how they actually affect the body and human condition, which a surprising number of people believe in. The video in this article will bring an end to the discussion about the role of coffee in increasing blood pressure.

Such an important topic as coffee and blood pressure has long been of concern to doctors and scientists around the world, who do not stop various studies regarding the effect of coffee on the human body. Does coffee increase blood pressure? And what is the effect of coffee on blood pressure? Let's figure it out.
Even before it became the most popular drink in the world, coffee was constantly “attacked” by doctors who “revolted” against this drink. A favorite of Muslims, coffee, according to doctors, caused a person to have a “terrible passion for drinking it every day,” and this was fraught with many dire consequences. They talked so much about coffee! And that it supposedly shortens life, and that it burns the stomach, and that it causes the body to become covered with ulcers, and much, much more! However, all these accusations did not prevent this drink from becoming super popular.
The effect of coffee on blood pressure has been studied and re-studied a thousand times, but still here and there interesting and sometimes very controversial data regarding this issue emerge. Recent medical research has revealed quite remarkable facts about the connection between coffee and blood pressure.

The main component of coffee is, as you know, caffeine, which is considered a mild stimulant. Caffeine, which can increase blood pressure, is usually prescribed to people with low blood pressure. This is what prompted the start of the study of the dependence of blood pressure on coffee.
Does coffee increase blood pressure? Of course, caffeine, being a natural stimulant, increases activity, which leads to constriction of blood vessels and, consequently, increased blood pressure. In addition, the hormone adenosine, which interacts with brain cells and ensures normal blood flow by dilating the arteries, is affected by caffeine. This prevents the dilation of blood vessels, which results in increased blood pressure. Caffeine can also stimulate the adrenal glands, which secrete adrenaline, which also increases blood pressure.
At the same time, it has been experimentally proven that all of the above factors in the vast majority of cases cannot have a long-term effect, and the increase in blood pressure from caffeine does not last long. In other words, the temporary nature of these processes cannot provoke the development of hypertension in a healthy person.
The most accurate pattern of interaction between coffee and blood pressure depends on what the pressure was initially, that is, on the individual qualities of the person. We propose to consider the basic processes of the influence of coffee and caffeine on the human body in specific cases.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) - in such cases, caffeine can slightly increase blood pressure and bring it to full normal condition. It is known that the main symptoms of hypotension are weakness, lethargy, headache, and coffee kills these symptoms due to its general tonic effect.
High blood pressure (hypertension) - doctors warn that with such blood pressure, drinking coffee in excessive quantities is very dangerous. Caffeine will prevent blood pressure from lowering.
Normal blood pressure - in this case, coffee and blood pressure interact weakly, so caffeine either will not change blood pressure or will only provide a slight increase. However, do not forget to take into account that drinking coffee in large quantities can lead to tension and irritability. In other words, if your daily coffee consumption is limited to 300 milligrams, that is, 2-3 cups, then you do not have to worry about your blood pressure. But those coffee lovers who regularly drink alcohol and smoke should pay attention to their health, since alcohol, coupled with coffee and cigarettes, can cause constantly elevated blood pressure. However, a person who regularly drinks coffee eventually develops a certain “immunity” to this drink, so caffeine no longer has such a pronounced effect.
Science and medicine do not stand still, and constant research by scientists sometimes leads to unexpected results. For example, relatively recently, British specialists from the University of London, studying the issue of coffee and blood pressure, came to the conclusion that by increasing blood pressure, coffee can relieve pain. However, there is a caveat - this effect is most pronounced in women. An experiment helped scientists reach this conclusion: several volunteers, including women and men, were planted near containers with ice water. Daredevil subjects were asked to put their hands in the water and hold them there for as long as possible, trying to overcome the pain. Of course, the participants in the experiment were given coffee beforehand. As a result, coffee drinkers experienced a decrease in pain due to an increase in blood pressure. At the same time, coffee had an extremely strong effect on women, and less pronounced on men. However, the fact that women, according to the well-known hypothesis, are naturally more tolerant of pain, was for some reason not taken into account by scientists when conducting the experiment.

In short, the question of whether coffee increases blood pressure in each specific case can only be answered by a qualified specialist. To find out how coffee affects your blood pressure, consult your doctor. Be healthy and take care of yourself!