The article provides information about the effect of coffee on blood vessels. You will also find out whether doctors allow drinking espresso for varicose veins, what doses of coffee are recommended for healthy people and who should not drink it.
Nowadays there are often people who have problems with the cardiovascular system. After forty years, many people experience pressure surges. If a patient develops hypertension, doctors do not recommend drinking coffee. At low pressure, espresso can bring a person to his senses. But we will not only talk about pressure indicators and the influence of strong espresso on them; then we will study in detail the topic of coffee and vessels. Let's find out how coffee affects human blood vessels, and whether it is possible to drink the drink if you have varicose veins.
The mechanism of action of caffeine on the vascular system
The effect of caffeine on blood vessels is ambiguous. As a rule, it has an expanding effect. The only exceptions are capillaries:
- brain;
- peritoneal cavity.
This is due to its pronounced invigorating and stimulating effect. In order to activate the myocardium and the central nervous system, blood flow in most internal organs is reduced. By reducing the lumen of the capillaries, brain activity is stimulated and drowsiness is eliminated.
If a person drinks more than three servings of coffee drinks per day, caffeine takes the place of adenosine. As a result of this, a narrowing of almost all arteries occurs. Signals to the brain about the need for rest slow down. In addition, the alkaloid has a slight effect on the pituitary gland. Therefore, a more intense synthesis of hormones begins.
Adrenaline begins to enter the bloodstream. As a result, the following changes are noted:
- increased heart rate;
- increased frequency and speed of breathing;
- pupils dilate.
Due to the fact that caffeine affects almost all capillaries and arteries, you need to drink drinks based on it with extreme caution. There are possible benefits and harms from them.
How much is coffee without harm?
When it comes to coffee, benefits and harms go hand in hand. Its consumption in large quantities can cause exacerbation of chronic diseases and provoke problems with the circulatory system and internal organs. Therefore, experts recommend that a healthy person drink no more than 4 cups a day.
Some rules for drinking the drink will help reduce the negative effects of caffeine:
- Avoid its use if you have heart disease;
- Give preference to a quality product: instead of instant coffee, brew ground coffee;
- You should not drink it on an empty stomach.
After a cup of coffee you feel a surge of strength and vigor. But you shouldn’t get carried away with it: excessive consumption leads to physical and nervous exhaustion.
Coffee blood vessels dilate or contract
To understand the effect of coffee on the blood vessels of the brain, you need to understand how it affects the cardiovascular system as a whole.
Expanding action
The drink has a vasodilating effect on the following organs:
- heart . At the same time, blood circulation improves, more oxygen and nutrients enter the organ. In case of blockage of blood vessels, blood flow in problem areas accelerates. Increases resistance to external stimuli;
- skeletal muscles . With the help of caffeine, blood flow increases and the corset becomes stronger. Lactic acid is removed from the body faster. True, with abuse, the vascular lumens narrow and spasm occurs;
- kidneys _ Coffee dilates blood vessels in these organs and thereby improves blood circulation. The urinary system begins to function faster. Sodium ions are retained in tissues;
- lungs . The expansion of capillaries promotes active blood supply to tissues. Oxygen enrichment occurs faster. In this way, hypoxia can be prevented.
Constricting action
Not in all cases, caffeine dilates blood vessels. When the alkaloid penetrates the bloodstream in the following organs, a vasoconstrictor effect is noted:
- Gastrointestinal tract . Secretion increases, more gastric juice is released. Thanks to this, digestion improves. The breakdown of carbohydrates and fats occurs at an accelerated rate;
- pelvic organs . Due to the fact that coffee constricts blood vessels, it is possible to reduce pain in urethritis, cystitis and a number of other pathologies. Moderate consumption of the drink can reduce the severity of discomfort during cramps;
- brain . A vasoconstrictor effect is also noted. True, if you abuse coffee drinks, exhaustion is possible.
Harm of coffee to blood vessels: who should not drink the drink?
Caffeine can cause irreparable harm if the drink is consumed by patients with the following contraindications:
- diseases of the central nervous system, brain, heart;
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- vascular diseases (atherosclerosis, VSD with hypertension);
- gastrointestinal diseases (ulcers, colitis, gastritis);
- kidney pathologies accompanied by excessive urination;
- glaucoma and other eye diseases;
- surgical interventions.
It doesn’t matter if you can’t drink espresso, there are always alternative options. You can replace strong coffee with a weaker drink: cappuccino, latte, or start drinking chicory or tea.
Children under 14 years of age are not allowed to drink strong drinks. Its effects on children and adolescents have not been fully studied.
Effect on veins and arteries
Coffee is good for blood vessels, but only if consumed in moderation. If you drink espresso too often, the venous system begins to break down. This is due to increased load on the arteries. In this case, muscle function is disrupted. The tissues begin to shrink and the lumen narrows. As a result, your head may hurt, your legs and arms may turn pale, and your coordination of movements may suffer .
The effect of coffee on the blood vessels of the brain
There is a positive effect of coffee on the blood vessels of the brain. Caffeine increases productivity and stimulates brain activity. In addition, the following changes are observed:
- the need for oxygen decreases;
- metabolism becomes accelerated;
- the work of subcortical and cortical structures is normalized;
- the work of the brain is accelerated;
- drowsiness is eliminated.
Heart muscle and coronary arteries
Caffeine has a positive effect on the blood vessels of the heart. With its help, blood circulation is stimulated. Many cardiologists agree that moderate consumption of espresso reduces the risk of heart attack and angina . Thanks to this drink, the severity of pain in various heart pathologies decreases.
The myocardium has the following effects:
- with a weak, low pulse, the speed at which the excitation wave passes increases;
- blood circulation is normalized in problem areas;
- resistance to stress increases.
Under the influence of a natural stimulant, the coronary arteries expand. This makes it easier for oxygen to reach the heart. Accordingly, the organ is more quickly saturated with nutrients.
Who should use it, and who should avoid it altogether?
Doctors can recommend coffee (but in moderation) only to patients with chronic hypotension , that is, with constantly low blood pressure.
Also, many point out that for migraines, caffeine helps relieve the headache a little , although doctors say that these are isolated cases, since migraines can develop in several variations (when only the vessels or also the cortical part are affected).
That is, in this case you should additionally consult with your doctor.
Coffee will also be useful for those whose work involves intellectual work and who find it difficult to cheer up in the morning . Caffeine in the dose contained in a regular cup of hot drink acts as a simple stimulant without any negative consequences for a healthy person. Moreover, caffeine-based drugs are often recommended to stimulate mental performance. But this is not relevant for children.
But in the following cases and in the presence of such diseases, any caffeine-containing drinks should be completely abandoned:
- hypertension;
- cardiac ischemia;
- angina pectoris;
- heart failure;
- renal failure;
- pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding);
- age up to 14 years;
- glaucoma;
- chronic insomnia.
You should also minimize coffee consumption if you have diabetes, although caffeine increases insulin sensitivity. In this regard, it is better to consult with an endocrinologist, since it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. For example, coffee brewed in Turkish is strictly contraindicated in this case - it has a high glycemic index . But espresso is quite low (below 30, which minimally affects blood glucose levels).
Benefits of caffeine for the brain
The main active ingredient in coffee drinks helps eliminate headaches. Migraine occurs due to vasodilation . They put pressure on other tissues and nerve endings. As a result, pain occurs.
The positive effects of caffeine on the central nervous system have been known in medicine for a long time. There are many medicines containing caffeine. For example, to eliminate pain, it is recommended to drink copacil, askofen or citramon .
A cup of invigorating espresso can replace medications. After using it, the capillaries narrow and the discomfort disappears.
Daily intake of caffeine for a healthy body
Everything is good in moderation. The daily dose is not measured in cups of coffee. After all, they are different for everyone: the composition can be strong or diluted. Therefore, the norm is determined by the amount of caffeine, the basic active substance. It makes up approximately 1% of coffee beans. According to pharmacological reference books, it is a psychostimulant.
Therefore, it has found wide application in medicine:
- ♨ to normalize depressed functions of the cardiovascular and nervous systems;
- ♨ in the treatment of migraines, enuresis (bedwetting);
- ♨ in case of drug poisoning.
It is caffeine that is a fail-safe remedy when you need to urgently get work done, but your strength is running out. Be it physical work or mental work. The substance is sold in pharmacies in the form of tablets of 100-200 mg. Based on this, we calculate the dosage:
One cup of coffee contains approximately 100 mg of caffeine. For a healthy person, the permissible limit (according to medical research) is 300 mg, that is, 3 cups per day.
Effect on blood pressure and pulse
After drinking coffee drinks, there is an increase in blood pressure. In addition, the heart rate increases. This is due to the vasodilating effect of caffeine. Therefore, people with high blood pressure should drink coffee as carefully as possible . Excessive consumption of espresso can lead to a hypertensive crisis.
Upper blood pressure after a serving of an invigorating drink rises to 12 mmHg. Art., and the lower one by approximately 5 mm. The effect lasts up to four hours.
True, when you get used to the effects of caffeine, fluctuations in blood pressure become insignificant.
Coffee and cardiovascular diseases
A healthy person cannot develop arrhythmia if the indicated dosages are used. When a person drinks too strong coffee or more than 4 cups a day, heart rhythm disturbances may occur.
The duration of negative manifestations will depend on the individual characteristics of the person. The thing is that there are two factors at work here.
Caffeine itself affects blood vessels and increases blood pressure, and it also stimulates the production of adrenaline, which increases the heartbeat and constricts blood vessels. In addition, they both stimulate the central nervous system, which increases excitability. The latter factor increases arrhythmia and hypertension.
Important. People with the initial stages of hypertension can drink weak coffee in limited quantities, but for more serious problems with blood pressure, it is better to avoid the aromatic drink.
But not only coffee poses a danger to people suffering from hypertension. In this case, it is not recommended to drink any drinks containing caffeine, such as cola, energy drinks, and others. The same applies to patients suffering from arrhythmias.
It is not uncommon for people who drink a lot of coffee to feel discomfort and even pain in the heart area. In this case, for some time, for example, a couple of months, the consumption of stimulants completely stops. Then you can drink moderate amounts of your favorite drink.
However, not everyone is sensitive to caffeine. There are those whose heart rhythm remains normal even after several cups, and their blood pressure does not increase, which indicates potential harm.
A number of doctors explain this heterogeneity of reaction by genetic characteristics inherited by children from their parents. In most cases, after a triple dose in healthy people, indicators change for a few minutes in the direction of increased blood pressure and faster heart rate.
In order to understand exactly how coffee affects the body, you can conduct a simple experiment, which consists of the following. You need to measure your blood pressure before drinking the drink and after (after 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes).
One measurement is not enough, therefore, for the reliability of the result, the study should be carried out for at least five days in a row in the absence of other factors that could distort the results, for example, physical activity, cola consumption, stress, emotional arousal. You will have to give up coffee if your blood pressure remains elevated after 20 minutes (compared to the levels before drinking coffee).
Who should avoid drinking coffee?
It is undesirable to drink drinks containing caffeine if you have hypertension. Contraindications also include:
- period of breastfeeding and gestation;
- childhood and adolescence;
- glaucoma;
- aneurysm;
- disturbance of blood flow in the myocardium;
- degenerative processes in the cranial region;
- angina pectoris.
In addition, you should limit your coffee consumption if you have psychological disorders and insomnia .
Caffeine has a constricting and dilating effect on arteries and capillaries. With moderate consumption of drinks based on it, the body is more likely to benefit. If abused, serious harm can occur. Therefore, you should not drink more than three servings of aromatic espresso per day.
Drinking coffee for VSD, atherosclerosis
Due to an unhealthy lifestyle and non-compliance with a balanced diet, people develop diseases of the vascular system such as atherosclerosis and vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Over time, arteries and thin vessels accumulate fatty particles on their walls due to eating fast food, fatty meats, sweets, fried foods, etc. Therefore, already at 35-40 years old, patients experience atherosclerosis. The disease affects the brain, cardiac system, and legs. Coffee also has a negative effect on such patients; it promotes the formation of cholesterol due to the component that is included in its composition - cafestol.
With vegetative-vascular dystonia, drinking espresso can even be useful when the pathology is manifested by low blood pressure. If the pressure readings are normal, then espresso does not affect its readings at all. Doctors do not recommend drinking grain coffee if VSD is present in hypertensive patients. There are risks of pressure surges and other unpleasant consequences.
An interesting fact: scientists have found that the caffeine contained in teenagers’ favorite drink, Coca-Cola, has the ability to increase blood pressure, but the caffeine in coffee beans does not.
The effect of coffee on the blood vessels of the kidneys
Caffeine dilates the blood vessels of the kidneys and increases urination, during which not only waste products, but also calcium are removed from the body. If a person drinks 1–2 cups of coffee a day, but at the same time drinks a lot of water and eats food rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements, then the leaching of calcium does not affect the condition of bones, teeth and hair.
But 40–60 minutes after consumption, the effect of caffeine on the kidney vessels weakens, and under the influence of theobromine they narrow. Sometimes it feels like a slight pain. Instant coffee contains more theobromine than natural coffee, and accordingly, the load on the kidneys when consuming concentrate increases. Therefore, in case of kidney diseases, it is recommended to limit the consumption of coffee, especially instant coffee.
Effect of caffeine on other organs
The question of the pharmacological effect of coffee on different systems of the body was first considered by Pavlov, the author of the famous study on conditioned reflexes (where a dog salivated when a bell rang). The coffee drink stimulates and increases performance, relieves fatigue. Or it leads to exhaustion of the nervous system. Let's consider the results of research by specialists from different countries:
The liver is a dosage indicator. If a person is genetically predisposed to a slow metabolism, the liver's sensitivity to caffeine increases. That is, an overdose is possible even with small doses!
The stomach won’t say “thank you”. Coffee irritates the gastric mucosa and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. This leads to exacerbation of gastritis, ulcers, and bleeding.
Effect on the urinary system . Caffeine dilates the renal arteries and activates the formation and excretion of urine. Does this mean it promotes calcium release? One cup removes 6 mg of the substance, that’s 1 tsp. milk. That is, if you balance your diet, such a loss is insignificant.
Coffee drink is beneficial. It is an antioxidant, improves metabolism, reduces the risk of blood clots, and prevents the development of diabetes.
If you have stomach problems, or you need caffeine to be absorbed smoothly rather than abruptly, add sugar and milk. But the calorie content of the product will increase from 7 kcal to 80 kcal (calculated for 50 ml of milk, 2 tsp of sugar).
Note! Unlike ground (in grains), the soluble product undergoes chemical processing. Often the manufacturer adds foreign impurities.
What's the benefit?
In order to understand the effect of coffee on the heart and blood vessels, it is necessary to consider the benefits of an invigorating drink. First of all, it is famous for its invigorating effect on brain function. However, this is not the only quality for which it should be appreciated.
There are many other positive qualities, among which are the following:
- during attacks of hypertension, it improves the patient’s condition, relieves headaches, nausea, and lethargy;
- metabolic processes are accelerated;
- the functioning of the endocrine system improves;
- blood circulation improves;
- prevention against the development of malignant tumors;
- has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system;
- performance improves;
- The deficiency of many substances in the body is compensated: phosphorus, manganese, iron, etc.
Important! All the positive qualities of coffee appear only if the drink is natural. As for instant, it does not have such a large list of advantages. You can also notice the difference in taste.
You shouldn’t think that if a drink is good, that means its price is exorbitant; this is not the case. You can buy good coffee at an affordable price; first of all, you need to pay attention to the composition.
If coffee is so good and has so many benefits, why is there talk about its harm to blood vessels and the heart? Why do many lovers of an invigorating drink claim that after a couple of glasses they experience dizziness, heart pain, and panic attacks?
The thing is that many simply do not monitor their health and do not follow the recommendations given by their doctor. Even if you love coffee, you need to drink it correctly.
Is it harmful to the heart?
Of course, if the healthy consumption limit is exceeded, it can also have a negative effect on the heart of any person. You need to know that for those people who initially have a dysfunction of the cardiovascular system and experience pressure surges, coffee is simply contraindicated. Let's look at some cases where coffee can be harmful to health:
- People with an unstable nervous system after drinking the drink become more irritable, anxious, their sleep is disturbed and insomnia appears.
- It is dangerous to drink for hypertensive patients, who already have high blood pressure, and after drinking such a drink, it can rise even higher. The fact is that the drink does not allow the pressure to drop and therefore it can rise even higher
- Excessive consumption can cause a decrease in the body of microelements necessary for the heart, such as magnesium, potassium and calcium.
Reference! It is because of exceeding the norm of drinking the drink that people often have heart pain and nervous disorders.
- People who have suffered a heart attack or stroke should not drink it. Only in some cases can the doctor allow this pleasure to the patient, but with the condition of adding cream and sugar to the drink
- People with symptoms of tachycardia and angina should avoid the drink altogether. Any cup you drink can intensify attacks of illness and lead to unpleasant consequences for your overall health.
- With gastritis and stomach ulcers, coffee can cause a relapse of the disease due to its stimulating effect on the secretion of gastric juice
- If you have varicose veins, it is not advisable to drink the drink. In case of such a disease, coffee substances can cause congestion in the limbs, which inevitably leads to disruption of the functioning of the heart muscle.
Even if a person is absolutely healthy and does not have the above diseases, then if his health worsens, he should reduce the rate of drink consumption or abandon it altogether.
Who should give up the drink?
The following are absolute contraindications for drinking coffee:
- children under 12 years of age;
- 1st trimester of pregnancy;
- lactation;
- arterial hypertension;
- acute circulatory disorder in the heart and brain;
- tachyarrhythmia;
- increased sodium levels in the blood;
- impaired renal function, which is accompanied by excessive urine production;
- exacerbation of ulcerative lesions of the stomach and intestines;
- old age – more than 75-80 years;
- glaucoma;
- abnormal vasodilation;
- early postoperative period - 7-10 days after any surgical interventions on the heart or brain;
- serious atherosclerotic lesions of the arteries;
- traumatic brain injury.
There are also conditions that require limiting coffee consumption to 1-2 cups per day. These include the following:
- age 12-18 years;
- 2-3 trimester of pregnancy;
- tendency to increase blood pressure;
- sleep disorders;
- mental pathologies that are accompanied by severe agitation;
- nervous overexcitement.
Coffee causes blood vessels to expand or contract – it all depends on their location. In order for the drink to bring only benefits and not aggravate existing diseases, it is important to use it correctly, strictly observing the dosage.
