Is it possible to drink coffee if you have hypertension and how does the drink affect blood pressure?

Research on the effects of coffee

Scientists have proven that coffee does not affect the development of hypertension and the condition of the vascular system. The studies involved people over 65 years of age (more than 400 people were examined). All patients underwent diagnostics and mandatory measurement of vascular stiffness.

The dose of coffee per day matters

As a result, it was found that:

• About 35% of people drink no more than 2 cups per week,
• Approximately 50% of respondents drink no more than 2 cups of an invigorating drink per day,
• 10% - more than 3 cups per day.

In the main group of people, the arteries and veins had a high degree of elasticity and strength, and in those who belonged to the first group, the veins were less elastic. For amateurs, the results were slightly worse.

Scientists have concluded that those who do not drink coffee and those who abuse it have no difference in the risk of developing hypertension.

People who drink this strong drink in small quantities are susceptible to blood vessel diseases with the same regularity.

During the study, patients’ physical activity, bad habits, the presence of third-party chronic diseases, excess weight and diseases of the circulatory system were also taken into account. In some cases, doctors recommend this drink for heart health (low blood pressure).

Is it possible to drink coffee with high blood pressure?

Drinking coffee for high blood pressure does not always make you feel worse. There is a category of patients, and not only hypotensive ones, who are not prohibited and are even recommended to drink a tonic drink in reasonable quantities.

With intracranial pressure

The question of whether it is possible to drink coffee with high blood pressure often arises among coffee drinkers whose high blood pressure is not blood pressure, but intracranial. The good news for them is that with such an illness, their favorite drink will not only not harm, but will help relieve cerebral vascular spasm caused by impaired circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, aneurysms, injuries, and thereby reduce pressure in the skull. Coffee contains ergotamine, which stimulates the cerebral cortex and has an antispasmodic effect. The pulse remains normal.

For hypertension

In diseases of the cardiovascular system, energy drink causes completely different processes than in cases of intracranial pressure. It provokes a sharp spasm of blood vessels, disruption of the heart (increased systolic pressure). Therefore, if you have hypertension, you really shouldn’t indulge in coffee, even if you love it very much. In cases where it is impossible to overcome the passion for the morning ritual, you should follow a few simple rules:

1. Use only natural and proven varieties.
2. Brew a weak drink.
3. Drink no more than one cup per day.
4. Drink during the daytime, 4 hours before bedtime.
5. Monitor blood pressure after each cup.

Beneficial properties of coffee

The positive effect of coffee on the human body is:

1. Filling the body with strength,
2. Relieving fatigue, tension,
3. Fighting depression
4. Activation of the gastrointestinal tract,
5. Relieving constipation,
6. Eliminate symptoms of diarrhea,
7. Fighting excess weight,
8. Increased potassium in the blood,
9. Reducing the risk of diabetes mellitus,
10. Reducing the risk of cancer,
11. Improving blood circulation.

Caffeine has antimicrobial and diuretic properties, promotes the production of collagen, which prolongs the youth of the skin. The same substance helps relieve headaches and increases male potency and sexuality.

Coffee - benefits and harm

Coffee stimulates the nervous system, increases the release of the hormone of happiness into the blood, and is responsible for increasing mental activity.

Contraindications

It is not recommended to drink the drink:

• During pregnancy and breastfeeding,
• People over 70 years old
• For sleep disorders,
• For neuroses,
• With angina pectoris,
• For heart failure.

You should not drink it on an empty stomach, immediately after meals and before bed. Excessive drinking leads to a deterioration in the absorption of vitamins and minerals.

• If you drink more than 6 cups of strong drink without milk per day, then:
• Increased risk of developing rheumatic arthritis
• The amount of calcium in the body decreases.
• The digestion process worsens.

It is not recommended to drink this invigorating drink without milk if you have ischemia, kidney disease, or before sports and physical activity.

Does coffee cause hypertension?

No, it doesn't. In any case, when consumed in reasonable doses, up to 400 ml per day. If you drink more than 6 cups, and on an empty stomach, under stress, then hypertension may appear faster against the background of other diseases, but with 2-3 cups daily, it will not be caused by coffee.

American scientists observed 160,000 volunteers for 20 years, drinking no more than 3 cups of the drink per day, and found no connection between hypertension and caffeine. That is, 3 cups is a completely safe dose for any relatively healthy person.

The most likely cause of hypertension, according to American scientists, is sleep disturbances and insomnia, which can be caused by consuming large amounts of caffeine. So you shouldn’t drink coffee to delay sleep, much less do it on a regular basis.

In order not to provoke the development of the disease and increased symptoms, it is not recommended to drink coffee before the following types of exercise:

• Heavy physical work;
• Exercises in the gym;
• Run.

Coffee during hypertension

Research by scientists has shown that drinking more than three cups of coffee per day can lead to an increase in systolic pressure by 3-15 mmHg, and diastolic pressure by 4-15 mmHg. This applies only to people with normal blood pressure and those who regularly drink coffee. If the drink is drunk rarely, then such an amount can provoke a sharp short-term rise and a subsequent decrease in blood pressure.

Blood pressure control after a cup of coffee

A frequently asked question: can you drink coffee if you have hypertension? There is no clear answer. It all depends on the stage and extent of the disease, concomitant diseases and the general condition of the patient. Coffee for hypertension raises blood pressure significantly more than in healthy people. And the stronger the drink, the stronger and longer the effect.

The effect of coffee on arterial hypertension has not yet been fully studied. Some people are more sensitive to this drink, while others hardly notice the effect of caffeine on the body. For most hypertensive patients in the initial stages of the disease, it does not cause harm, since its effect passes quickly. One cup of coffee a day can improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. At more complex stages of the disease, whether to drink coffee or not should be decided by the attending physician.

It is easy to confirm or refute the harm of the product in case of hypertensive heart disease: 15 minutes after taking the drink, you can check your blood pressure readings. Typically, blood pressure is measured in both arms before and after drinking a cup of your favorite drink. With increased individual sensitivity, the pressure increases by 3-6 units. If more, hypertension and coffee are no longer compatible.

Coffee intolerance can be caused by genetic problems and certain medications. For a healthy person, 3 cups of coffee may be the norm, but for a hypertensive person, a similar amount of caffeine can trigger a crisis. The presence of caffeine in blood vessels stimulates the nervous system. As a result, the receptors of the heart muscle cells begin to contract intensely, which leads to an increase in the number of beats. This leads to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular complications. The effect can last up to 6 hours.

Therefore, if you have heart problems or personal intolerance, hypertensive patients are not recommended to drink coffee.

Is it possible to drink coffee with high blood pressure?

It is an indisputable fact that caffeine invigorates and increases blood pressure. Hypertension and coffee are incompatible. However, many experts do not give a clear answer to the question: should you drink coffee with unstable blood pressure, because not all patients feel worse after taking it. Hypotonic patients with low blood pressure readings due to hypertension are not prohibited from taking a tonic drink, provided, of course, that they drink within reasonable limits.

What if the high pressure is intracranial and not blood pressure? Coffee relieves cerebral vascular spasms and reduces intracranial pressure. After all, it contains ergotamine, a stimulant of the cerebral cortex. But intracranial pressure should not be confused with blood pressure. Patients with hypertension and diseases of the cardiovascular system will experience other symptoms when taking caffeine energy drinks in increased doses:

• sharp spasm of blood vessels;
• increase in systolic pressure.

What experts advise for hypertensive patients:

• replace black coffee with latte, cappuccino, chicory;
• drink instant versions of the drink, adding cream, milk;
• do not make coffee strong;
• drink natural varieties of coffee;
• do not brew a strong drink;
• drink 1–2 cups a day during the day, 4–5 hours before bedtime;
• keep your blood pressure levels under control, check your pulse with a tonometer after drinking a drink;
• choose a drink with low caffeine content, 8–10 mg per 100 g of product.

It is important for hypertensive patients to take into account that they should not drink coffee after waking up. If you drink a cup of coffee when you get out of bed, your blood pressure will immediately double. This applies to grade 2–3 hypertensive patients, when it is important to monitor blood pressure and general well-being.

On a note! Pressure indicators are affected by the frequency of intake and the strength of the drink. If drinking 2-3 cups of weak natural leaf tea improves blood circulation, dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, then drinking coffee in the same amount has the opposite effect. On the contrary, tea, when taken in small quantities, will prevent an increase in blood pressure and will have a therapeutic effect to some extent.

How to drink coffee for hypertensive patients

Hypertensive patients experience low blood pressure in the morning. It begins to rise an hour and a half after waking up, and a cup of coffee drunk at this time will have a double effect. After a short-term increase, blood pressure will begin to decrease again, which can cause headaches and dizziness. Doctors advise drinking an invigorating drink two to three hours after a night's sleep.

For hypertensive patients, it is important not only the time of administration, but also the correct choice and preparation of their favorite drink. Instant coffee has a higher caffeine content than ground coffee, which means it is unsuitable for use. It is recommended to prepare coffee for hypertension as follows: pour freshly ground beans with boiling water and boil over low heat. Add a little sugar and a pinch of cinnamon to speed up metabolism.

If you have hypertension, you can drink drinks containing caffeine. But it is better to try to replace coffee with chicory: with a similar taste, chicory has many beneficial properties and does not contain caffeine. You should switch to decaffeinated drinks gradually if coffee is already a habit. Abrupt withdrawal can cause severe headaches, apathy, and drowsiness. During the transition period, it is recommended to drink coffee drinks in alternation with coffee for hypertension. Then the withdrawal will pass without complications and will not bring any inconvenience.

Coffee drinks

Regular consumption of coffee drinks can affect not only the functioning of the heart, but also the entire body. Barley coffee with rye is very healthy and promotes:

• Improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract,
• Prevention of diabetes,
• Fighting extra pounds,
• Restoration of heart function (especially with vascular dystonia),
• Prevention of various types of inflammation,
• General strengthening of the body.

There are no direct contraindications for drinking the drink. The restriction exists only for those who are obese. Such people are not recommended to drink more than 5 cups per day. The drink provides a weight loss effect only in small quantities, but if you abuse it, then coffee begins to work in the opposite direction.

It's easy to prepare:

1. 3 tablespoons of rye and the same volume of barley,
2. The ingredients are washed with clean running water,
3. Pour the grains with warm water and leave for 24 hours.
4. The liquid is drained, and the grain mixture is filled with new clean water,
5. The mass is placed on the fire and brought to a boil,
6. As soon as the grains begin to burst, the container is removed from the heat.
7. The grains are washed again with running water, dried,
8. The grains must be fried in a dry frying pan for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly,
9. Grind using a coffee grinder,
10. Brew in a Turk like any regular ground coffee.
11. For taste, you can add chicory, cinnamon, cardamom, and cherry berries.

How does coffee affect blood pressure and pulse?

How compatible are hypertension and coffee? A coffee drink can have completely different effects on each person, so the question of the compatibility of coffee and heart disease has not yet been fully studied. It is assumed that such properties depend on the body's specific reaction to caffeine.

Does coffee raise or lower blood pressure? Many studies have been conducted on patients who did not have cardiovascular pathologies. As a result, it turned out that after drinking 2-3 servings of an invigorating liquid, in adults who took it irregularly, the upper (systolic) blood pressure rose by 8-10 units, and the lower (diastolic) blood pressure increased by 5-7 units. The action of the active substance lasts about an hour, but the pressure surge can persist for 3 hours.

Once in the arterial vessels, caffeine begins to stimulate the central nervous system and the production of certain hormones in the blood. Receptors present in the tissues of the heart provoke an increase in heart contractions (up to 120 beats per minute), as indicated by an increased heart rate.

However, in another experiment involving patients with problematic blood pressure, it was found that after drinking the drink, some of them complained of chest pain and poor circulation.

Is coffee good for the heart and circulatory system? As already mentioned, coffee affects blood vessels in completely different ways:

1. In the normal state of the cardiovascular system, the level of pressure in the arteries remains almost unchanged.
2. If you have hypertension, there is a high probability of blood pressure increasing to a critical level, which is dangerous for a heart attack or stroke.
3. In some patients, the completely opposite effect was observed - the pressure decreased slightly, but only briefly.

Most hypertensive patients are interested in why coffee lowers blood pressure in some situations? Doctors explain this by the fact that caffeine has a vasodilating effect. Accordingly, the gap between the walls increases, blood begins to circulate more freely through the choroid plexuses, and as a result, blood pressure decreases.

In small amounts, caffeine exhibits spasmodic properties. For example, 0.5 cups of coffee relieves migraines and can lower blood pressure in most episodes. In addition, it also has a diuretic effect, which also helps regulate blood pressure levels.

If you have intracranial or eye pressure, you should absolutely not drink coffee. Increased intracranial blood pressure is a consequence of the presence of cerebral vascular spasm, and caffeine further enhances the spasmodic syndrome, which leads to circulatory failure and a significant deterioration in health.

If tachycardia is diagnosed, this drink will have to be abandoned. An accelerated heart rate is a clear threat to human life.