A recent study found that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may double the risk of death from heart disease among people with severe high blood pressure.
This means having a blood pressure reading of 160/100 mm Hg or higher.
However, the same study found that one cup of coffee and daily green tea consumption did not increase the risk of death related to heart disease at any blood pressure measurement, even though both drinks contain caffeine.
Previous research has suggested that drinking one cup of coffee a day may help heart attack survivors by lowering their risk of death after a heart attack and may prevent heart attacks or strokes in healthy individuals.
Drinking coffee regularly may also reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses, control appetite, lower the risk of depression, or boost alertness.
However, drinking too much coffee may raise blood pressure and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, and difficulty sleeping.
The study classified blood pressure into five categories and considered blood pressure measures in grades 2 and 3 as severe hypertension.
The study participants included more than 6,570 men and more than 12,000 women, ages 40 to 79 years at the start of the research.
The team found that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day was linked to twice the risk of heart disease death in people with severe high blood pressure compared to those who did not drink any coffee.
It is suggested that people with severe hypertension should avoid drinking excessive coffee, as caffeine’s harmful effects may outweigh its protective effects and may increase the risk of death.
On the other hand, green tea’s benefits may be explained by the presence of polyphenols, which are micronutrients with healthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties found in plants.
How to protect heart health in high blood pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition that can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease. Here are some tips to help protect your heart health if you have high blood pressure:
Monitor your blood pressure regularly: Check your blood pressure at least once a year, or more often if your doctor recommends it. Keeping track of your blood pressure levels can help you manage the condition and prevent complications.
Take medications as prescribed: If your doctor has prescribed medication to control your blood pressure, make sure you take it as directed.
Skipping doses or stopping medication without consulting your doctor can lead to a spike in blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease.
Maintain a healthy diet: Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help control high blood pressure and protect your heart health.
Focus on eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats, and limit your intake of sodium, sugar, and saturated and trans fats.
Stay physically active: Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, per week.
Manage stress: Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help manage stress.
Quit smoking: Smoking can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. Quitting smoking can help protect your heart health.
Limit alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. If you drink, limit your intake to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
By following these tips, you can help protect your heart health and manage high blood pressure. However, it’s important to work with your doctor to develop a plan that’s right for you and your individual health needs.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and people with severe high blood pressure should reduce coffee intake.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing most widely used high blood pressure drug may harm heart health.
The study was conducted by Hiroyasu Iso et al and published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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