| High Blood PressureArticle (updated Frequently)
|
| Does Caffeine Raise Blood Pressure? |
| By: Matt Pitcher |
If you suffer from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD or coronary heart disease) and/or fear you might some day due to high blood pressure, is your coffee consumption compounding the problem? Or, are there other things you can do to alleviate your high blood pressure and CVD concerns that do NOT include ending, or severely lessening, your coffee intake? This article explores reliable answers to those questions.
Can Coffee Contribute to Coronary Heart Disease?
CVD is the number one cause of death in America and high blood pressure is one of its biggest red flags. CVD has been the subject of extensive medical and scientific research for several decades. While researchers have differed in their conclusions over time, new evidence reported in The American Journal of Epidemiology in 1999 strongly indicates that consumption of coffee and caffeine does not contribute to CVD, finding neither caffeinated nor decaffeinated coffee associated with the risk of stroke—even for those drinking more than four cups of coffee a day.
Warren G. Thompson, M.D., noted in a 1994 literature review published in The American Journal of Medical Sciences, that: "The largest and better studies suggest that coffee is not a major risk factor for coronary disease."
Willet et. al, in a prospective study reported in the February 1996 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), examined data collected from more than 85,000 women over a 10-year period. After adjusting for known risk factors, the authors found no evidence for any positive association between coffee consumption and risk of CVD for women consuming six or more cups of coffee a day.
A 1990 New England Journal of Medicine study of more than 45,000 men found no link between coffee, caffeine and CVD for those drinking four or more cups of coffee a day.
These results confirm findings from the earlier Framingham Heart Study of more than 6,000 adults conducted over 20 years (as published in the Archives of Internal Medicine) and two 1987 studies using data from the Honolulu Heart Program (published in The New England Journal of Medicine and The American Journal of Epidemiology respectively).
Does Coffee/Caffeine Consumption Contribute to High Blood Pressure?
Despite previous controversy on the subject, most researchers now conclude that regular coffee and caffeine use has little or no effect on blood pressure.
Studies reviewed in the Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases indicate that while first-time caffeine use may produce immediate, minimal changes in blood pressure, these changes are transient. No changes in blood pressure appear to occur in regular users of caffeine. A 1991 study published in the British Medical Journal reached the same conclusion and indicated that restricting caffeine did not reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension. A number of studies that have looked at people with normal blood pressure (published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and the American Journal of Nutrition) have concluded that caffeine does not contribute to hypertension.
In 1997, the Sixth Report of the National Institutes of Health's Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure concluded that, "no direct relationship between caffeine intake and elevated blood pressure has been found in most epidemiologic surveys."
I think it’s safe to conclude that enough reliable evidence exists that can put to rest the claim that coffee/caffeine contributes to high blood pressure and even CVD.
What’s the Better Alternative than Retiring Your Coffee Mug?
As a certified fitness trainer, I’ve learned that one of the most effective ways to counteract high blood pressure and the onset of CVD is to be physically active, NOT – as the studies above prove - eliminate caffeine consumption. In fact, as my caffeine and fitness article explains, caffeine can even help you become more fit.
An American Heart Association study, as referenced by several peer-reviewed scientific and medical publications, has recently claimed that people who are physically active have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure -- 20%-50% lower -- than people who are not active.
Besides losing weight, there are other reasons to exercise: Being physically active can reduce your risk for heart disease, help lower your total cholesterol level and raise HDL-cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol that does not build up in the arteries), and help lower high blood pressure. And, again, people who are physically active have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure -- 20 to 50 percent lower -- than people who are not active.
More vigorous exercise has added benefits. It helps improve the fitness of the heart and lungs. And that in turn protects you more against heart disease and high blood pressure. Activities like swimming, brisk walking, running, and jumping rope are called "aerobic." This means that the body uses oxygen to make the energy it needs for the activity. Aerobic activities can condition your heart and lungs if done at the right intensity for 30 minutes, three to four times a week. But if you don't have 30 minutes for a break, try to find two 15-minute periods or even three 10-minute periods. Try to do some type of aerobic activity in the course of a week. And, since stress is also a major CAUSE of high blood pressure, exercise can even help lower stress levels as well.
Most people don't need to see a doctor before they start exercising, since a gradual, sensible exercise program has few health risks. But if you have a health problem like high blood pressure; if you have pains or pressure in the chest or shoulder area; if you tend to feel dizzy or faint; if you get very breathless after a mild workout; or are middle-age or older and have not been active, and you are planning a vigorous exercise program, you should check with your doctor first. Otherwise, drink your coffee, get out, get active, and get fit -- and help prevent high blood pressure and CVD.
Conclusion
Coffee consumption does not contribute to high blood pressure and CVD. Retiring your coffee mug is not going to help you reduce your risks. Exercising, however, will. So, go ahead and drink your coffee – especially before your next workout!
About the Author
Matt is a certified fitness trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association, author of numerous health and fitness related articles, an entrepreneur and investor and co-founder of the very popular DeepFitness.com website. |
|
| Keywords: 'high blood pressure' changes in blood, american journal, high blood pressure, blood, pressure, getting high blood, 'high blood pressure', coffee, blood pressure, high blood |
|
As Kids Grow Older, Egalitarianism Honed
A study in Nature shows that egalitarianism begins to appear in most kids between ages 3 and 8. Scientists who studied 229 Swiss children found that at age 3, 9 percent were willing to share candy with another person. But by age 8, that number rose to 45 percent.
Medication Error Death Rate Up 500 Percent
Painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs are being prescribed to out-patients in high doses, without the oversight of a doctor. A new study found that in the last 20 years there has been a 500 percent increase in the death rate from medication errors made at home.
Breast Exam Rebuttal: 'An Exam Saved Me'
Last week we reported on a study that showed that self breast exams don't help prevent death from breast cancer in women. The interview generated quite a response from listeners. Several women wrote in to say that they had found cancerous lumps in their own breasts and wouldn't be alive today if not for breast self exams.
A Partisan Divide On Health Care Reform
While both John McCain and Barack Obama agree that the American health care system needs reform, the candidates differ markedly in their vision of the remedy. Political scientist Jonathan Oberlander offers an in-depth comparison of the candidates' proposals.
Web Sites Compare How Hospitals Measure Up
A new Web site called "Hospital Compare" evaluates hospital death rates around the country and shows how individual hospitals stack up against the national average. Guests discuss the reliability of the data on the site and describe the measures hospitals are taking to improve performance.
Doctors Fear Effects Of Illegal Immigrant's Arrest
The recent arrest of a popular woman who happens to be an illegal immigrant has some North Carolina doctors concerned. The woman's immigration status apparently was turned over to authorities after she received medical care. Doctors worry that illegal immigrants will be afraid to seek care, which might lead to public health problems.
Moo North: Cows Sense Earth's Magnetism
A team of researchers sorting through satellite images of cows in 300 pastures makes a surprising discovery: Cows tend to face either magnetic north or south when grazing or resting.
|
|
Hypertension - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated ... be at least 1 hour after caffeine, 30 minutes after smoking and without ...
MedlinePlus: High Blood Pressure
... recent research articles on High Blood Pressure: • General ... Medicines for High Blood Pressure (04/05/2005, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Habitual Caffeine Intake and ...
Making lifestyle changes to prevent or control high blood pressure - MayoClinic.com
Making changes to your lifestyle is generally the best and safest way to prevent or control high blood pressure. Here's a look at what you can do. ... The role caffeine plays in blood pressure is debatable ...
Caffeine: How does it affect blood pressure? - MayoClinic.com
Caffeine can increase blood pressure temporarily. But it's unclear whether it has a long-term effect on blood pressure.
Preventing and Controlling High Blood Pressure
WebMD tells how preventing and controlling high blood pressure is crucial in preventing heart disease. ... 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure. High blood pressure is especially dangerous because it often ... do not have to limit caffeine to avoid developing high blood pressure ...
Link between caffeine consumption, high blood pressure found in adolescents
... Link between caffeine consumption, high blood pressure found in adolescents ... identified a link between high caffeine consumption and increased blood pressure in black adolescents ...
How much caffeine is too much? - Nutrition Notes - MSNBC.com
Although individuals seem to differ in their vulnerability to caffeine's influence, if drunk in moderation, the risks appear negligible. ... affected by a moderate use of caffeine. Bad for high blood pressure? Since some studies suggest ... physicians limit people with high blood pressure to 200 mg (two six ...
High blood pressure (hypertension)
... High blood pressure (hypertension) is often called a silent killer ... million Americans have high blood pressure, but about 30 percent ... Most people with high blood pressure have no signs ...
Additional Links >>
Click here to add your link to our directory >>
Index | Acupuncture Blood High Pressure | Alcohol Blood High Pressure | Alternative Blood High Medicine Pressure | Alternative Blood High Pressure Treatment | Anxiety Blood High Pressure | Aspirin Blood High Pressure | Avoid Blood Food High Pressure | Bleeds Blood High Nose Pressure | Blood Cause Diastolic High Pressure | Blood Cause Food High Pressure That | Blood Cause High Pressure | Blood Chart High Pressure | Blood Child High In Pressure | Blood Child High Pressure | Blood Cholesterol Diet High High Pressure | Blood Cholesterol Diet High Pressure | Blood Cholesterol High Pressure
|
