Should people with high blood pressure drink coffee?

Caffeine can increase heart rate and constrict blood vessels, many people worry that drinking coffee will cause high blood pressure. However, studies show that the actual effect of coffee on blood pressure is not so simple.

Some studies show that after drinking coffee, especially in people who are not used to caffeine, blood pressure can increase but only in the short term. This is because caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, causing vasoconstriction and making the heart beat faster, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

People with high blood pressure can drink coffee but should only drink it in moderation.

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However, this increase in blood pressure is not too large. Specifically, for people who rarely drink coffee, it can increase by about 10 mmHg, while for people who drink regularly, it is about 5 mmHg. This increase in blood pressure only lasts for 3 hours after drinking.

Long-term coffee drinking does not increase the risk of high blood pressure

Interestingly, studies have found that long-term coffee drinking does not increase the risk of high blood pressure, nor does it worsen the condition. Scientists believe that regular coffee consumption can lead to a tolerance that significantly reduces the blood pressure response compared to occasional coffee drinkers. Some data also suggests that coffee contains antioxidants that may have cardiovascular benefits if consumed in moderation.

For the above reasons, people with high blood pressure who have been treated and have their blood pressure well controlled can absolutely continue to drink coffee. However, they should only drink in moderation, about 1-2 cups/day. What is more important is that patients need to monitor their body's reaction and maintain a stable amount of coffee every day. They need to avoid not drinking for a whole week, then drinking 3 cups at the weekend. Drinking in a row like that will cause blood pressure and heart rate to increase more.

Some cases of people with high blood pressure should consider

In addition, there are still some cases where people with high blood pressure should consider limiting or avoiding coffee. For example, if blood pressure often fluctuates high and is not controlled stably, drinking coffee can cause dangerous increases in blood pressure. People who are sensitive to caffeine, feel nervous, dizzy just by drinking it, or have arrhythmia, severe cardiovascular disease, should not abuse coffee.

Also, avoid drinking coffee immediately before measuring your blood pressure as this can lead to inaccurate readings, confusing a temporary increase in blood pressure due to the caffeine effect with a true increase in blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure can still drink coffee. However, they should choose low-caffeine coffee, or even caffeine-free coffee if they are sensitive to this substance. They should also avoid coffee with too much sugar, syrup, or cream. It is the sugar and harmful fat that contribute to increased cardiovascular risk, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-tang-huyet-ap-co-nen-uong-ca-phe-185251206181406175.htm