If you enjoy coffee every day, new research suggests you may need to be more careful if you have very high blood pressure.
The study found that drinking too much coffee could raise the risk of dying from heart disease in this group of people. Interestingly, the same risk was not seen with green tea, even though both drinks contain caffeine.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common health problem that often develops without obvious symptoms. Over time, it can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease. Blood pressure of 160/100 mm Hg or higher is considered severe and needs careful medical treatment.
The researchers studied more than 18,500 adults between the ages of 40 and 79. They looked at the participants’ drinking habits and followed their health over time to see how coffee and green tea were linked with deaths from heart disease.
The results showed that people with severe high blood pressure who drank two or more cups of coffee each day had about twice the risk of dying from heart disease compared with people who did not drink coffee. However, drinking only one cup a day did not increase the risk.
This finding may surprise many people because coffee has been linked to several health benefits in previous studies. Moderate coffee drinking has been associated with a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, depression, and some long-term diseases. Coffee may also improve alertness and help people feel full after meals.
However, coffee also has effects that can be harmful for some people. Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, make the heart beat faster, increase feelings of anxiety, and disturb sleep. For people whose blood pressure is already dangerously high, these effects may place extra strain on the heart.
In contrast, the study found that green tea was not linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease, even among people with severe hypertension. Scientists believe this may be because green tea contains large amounts of polyphenols, natural plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that help protect blood vessels and the heart.
Although green tea also contains caffeine, these protective compounds may reduce some of caffeine’s harmful effects. More research is needed to fully understand why green tea appears to be safer than coffee for people with severe high blood pressure.
Managing high blood pressure involves much more than choosing the right drink. Doctors recommend checking blood pressure regularly, taking prescribed medicines as directed, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing stress.
For people with severe high blood pressure, limiting coffee to one cup a day or choosing green tea instead may be a sensible option. Everyone’s health is different, so it is important to discuss your caffeine intake with your healthcare provider before making major changes.
Overall, the findings suggest that moderate coffee drinking may still be safe for many people, but drinking two or more cups each day could be risky for those with severe hypertension.
The study highlights how personal health conditions can change the effects of foods and drinks that are generally considered healthy. The research was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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