What health conditions should be considered when drinking coffee?

Coffee is a familiar beverage for many people, providing alertness and energy for a day's work.

However, for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), drinking coffee may offer both benefits and risks, according to Everyday Health .

Helps reduce fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in people with MS. Many feel exhausted from early morning and struggle to maintain energy throughout the day.

Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that helps increase alertness and improve concentration.

According to Lisa Doggett, who works at the University of Texas (USA), coffee can improve fatigue, helping patients feel alert and energized.

However, she also advised against drinking coffee after 2 PM because caffeine can remain in the body for up to 10 hours, affecting sleep.

Coffee is a familiar beverage for many people, providing alertness and energy for a workday - Photo: AI

Improve memory and thinking skills.

Many people with MS have difficulty remembering, thinking, and learning. Caffeine helps reduce the activity of adenosine, a substance in the brain that causes drowsiness and sluggishness.

When adenosine is inhibited, the nervous system becomes more alert, improving concentration, reflexes, and mental clarity.

Impact on the bladder and digestion

One of the bothersome symptoms commonly experienced by people with MS is urinary dysfunction, such as frequent urination, urgency, or incontinence.

This stems from damage to the protective sheath of the nerve fibers, causing a disruption in the signals that control the bladder. Coffee, being a bladder stimulant, can worsen this condition.

Coffee also has a mild diuretic effect, causing patients to urinate more frequently and experience a more sudden urge to urinate after drinking it.

Sarah Anderson, a multiple sclerosis expert in the US, said: "Caffeine is a bladder irritant and should be avoided if you are having urinary problems."

In addition, coffee also affects the digestive system. For people with constipation, coffee can help improve bowel movements.

Causes stress

Coffee can help alleviate feelings of depression, but it can easily increase anxiety if consumed in excessive amounts.

Lisa Doggett warns that caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and can trigger the body's stress response, thereby increasing heart rate, feelings of restlessness, anxiety, or panic.

Everyone has a different level of sensitivity to caffeine. Some people experience a rapid heartbeat after just one cup of coffee, while others can drink three cups without any problems.

On average, an adult should not consume more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day.

In summary, people with MS can absolutely drink coffee in moderation. If you want to get a small amount of caffeine without coffee, you can switch to green tea or black tea.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/benh-gi-can-luu-y-khi-uong-ca-phe-185250626235329395.htm