Caffeine increases or decreases blood pressure: mechanism of action

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Many people love coffee, especially in the morning for breakfast. This drink gives you the opportunity to get a boost of energy and strength for the whole day. Some people can’t even work normally unless they drink a cup of coffee, but many are interested in whether coffee increases or decreases a person’s blood pressure. There are many opinions that the drink has a detrimental effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels, but is this described in the article?

Impact on pressure

Coffee contains caffeine, and everyone knows that it increases blood pressure, and a lot of research has been done. There is an experiment in which blood pressure was measured before and after drinking coffee. It has been established that after 2-3 cups of drink, upper blood pressure increases by about 8-10 units, and lower blood pressure by about 5-7.

After consuming coffee, a person experiences a jump in levels during the first hour while the caffeine is in effect, but the value can persist for up to 3 hours. The studies were conducted on people who do not have problems with blood pressure and no heart or vascular disease.

Almost all scientists are sure that in order to obtain accurate results, research must be carried out for a very long time, lasting several years. Only such diagnostic methods make it possible to determine how harmful or beneficial coffee is for people and their blood pressure.

Italian scientists also conducted an experiment in which 20 people took part. For a certain period, they drank espresso in the morning. During the exercises, coronary blood flow after one cup is reduced by 20% within an hour after consumption. If the volunteer had heart pathologies, then after consuming coffee, chest pain and circulatory problems are possible. Those who had no health problems did not notice any negative results. A similar effect applies to pressure.

If your blood pressure is low, then after coffee it rises and returns to normal. The drink itself is somewhat addictive, so hypotensive people need to be careful, because over time the dosage of coffee may increase and to feel normal you will need to drink more coffee in the morning, and this affects the cardiovascular system.

If your blood pressure constantly rises and doctors diagnose hypertension, then it is better to drink tea, because coffee will be very harmful. Everything is due to the fact that hypertension already leads to stress on the heart and blood vessels, and after a cup of drink the condition worsens. In addition, a slight increase in pressure readings can provoke further significant growth.

Healthy people with normal blood pressure may not worry about their condition and drink coffee, naturally, within reason. 2-3 cups a day will not have a negative effect, but doctors and scientists advise drinking natural coffee; it is better not to drink instant coffee frequently; up to 5 cups a day is considered acceptable. Otherwise, the cells of the nervous system may become depleted and constant fatigue will begin.

How does coffee affect blood pressure?

Caffeine triggers a whole chain of processes in the body. The effect of the alkaloid has more than once been the subject of research by scientists from different countries. One of the experiments was conducted at Duke University, which is located in the US state of North Carolina. Participants drank 4-5 cups of coffee in the morning, and their well-being was then monitored throughout the day.

Research results showed that people had not only high blood pressure throughout the day, but also high levels of adrenal hormones - adrenaline and norepinephrine, which excite the central nervous system. Scientists have concluded that increased doses of caffeine can cause heart problems, premature wear of blood vessels and depletion of nerve cells.

Coffee increases blood pressure due to its effect on heart rate, blood vessels and hormones

The mechanism of caffeine's effect on blood pressure is that it blocks adenosine, which is responsible for promoting sleep. When overworked, the concentration of the hormone increases, and the person needs rest. With a lack of adenosine, the adrenal glands begin to increase the production of adrenaline, which excites cardiac receptors.

Doctors note that caffeine increases systolic, so-called “upper” blood pressure. Here the changes reach 8 mm Hg. Art. For diastolic or “lower” pressure, the indicators increase by half as much. The effect lasts from one to three hours and usually does not affect your well-being. Hypotonic people use these properties of an invigorating drink to bring their blood pressure back to normal. Doctors often prescribe caffeine tablets to people suffering from this disease.

Is your blood pressure rising?

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Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. The main substance in the composition is caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. This substance is found in some varieties of nuts, tea and other leafy plants, but people get the bulk of it from coffee and chocolate.

After drinking the drink, the nervous system is stimulated, so the product is often used during times of fatigue, lack of sleep, and also to stimulate mental activity. If the concentration of the drink becomes very high, vascular spasms begin, due to which the pressure increases.

The drink also leads to increased production of adrenaline, which also affects the growth of performance. Based on this, scientists have come to the conclusion that with constant consumption of the drink in large doses, stable high blood pressure is possible in initially absolutely healthy people. This process occurs slowly in healthy people, but in the presence of certain factors that can provoke hypertension, the increase in pressure occurs faster. To increase indicators, you need to consume 2 or more cups per day.

Beneficial properties of coffee

The positive effect of coffee on the human body is:

1. Filling the body with strength,
2. Relieving fatigue, tension,
3. Fighting depression
4. Activation of the gastrointestinal tract,
5. Relieving constipation,
6. Eliminate symptoms of diarrhea,
7. Fighting excess weight,
8. Increased potassium in the blood,
9. Reducing the risk of diabetes mellitus,
10. Reducing the risk of cancer,
11. Improving blood circulation.

Caffeine has antimicrobial and diuretic properties, promotes the production of collagen, which prolongs the youth of the skin. The same substance helps relieve headaches and increases male potency and sexuality.

Coffee - benefits and harm

Coffee stimulates the nervous system, increases the release of the hormone of happiness into the blood, and is responsible for increasing mental activity.

Is your blood pressure going down?

There are studies in which volunteers who drink 2 cups a day begin to experience a gradual decrease in their levels, even though they have hypertension. Reviews from doctors about this are as follows:

1. Long-term use of caffeine leads to addiction, after which the body begins to respond less actively to the standard dose. It turns out that the body does not perceive coffee in any way, the tonometer readings do not increase and even a slight reduction is possible.
2. Coffee affects different people differently; for some it lowers blood pressure, for others it increases it. This factor depends on genetic characteristics, additional diseases, and the nervous system.

Although the drink can reduce blood pressure, it is not recommended to use it to lower blood pressure.

Use for hypertension

Hypertension is a disease, most often chronic, in which a person’s blood pressure is constantly elevated. This may be due to diseases of the blood vessels, nervous system, age-related changes, overexertion, etc.

Once diagnosed with hypertension, a person receives many restrictions in his diet. Now he should not abuse salty foods, alcohol, foods containing nitrates, and, most importantly, all foods containing caffeine.

To the question “is it possible to drink coffee with high blood pressure, even hypertension,” there is a clear answer – it is strictly not recommended. Of course, nothing fatal will happen from one cup of coffee with a hypertensive patient, there will be no attacks or any obvious symptoms of exacerbation of the disease. But each person is individual.

If for one person suffering from hypertension a cup of coffee caused only a slight arrhythmia and a barely noticeable increase in blood pressure, for another it could end worse. Possible consequences include:

• noise in the head, loss of coordination, dizziness;
• nausea caused by strong pressure in the blood vessels;
• redness;
• pain in the heart area;
• a severe attack in which the pressure will no longer decrease on its own, or with the help of medications, you will have to use the help of doctors.

Hypertension can be kept under control. If you adhere to all medical prescriptions and do not provoke the body to frequently increase already unstable blood pressure, the disease will cause you minimal trouble

Drinking coffee with high blood pressure, which is tormenting you right now, is stupid. Caffeine will act on the blood vessels, narrowing them even more, preventing the free passage of blood. The heart, which will have to work harder and harder in this mode, may not be able to withstand it and fail.

Heart pain - sharp or aching pain in the left side of the chest, very unpleasant. If you want to drink coffee while having problems with high blood pressure, first think about the possible symptoms.

Reasons for the increase after drinking

It is also important to know why coffee affects blood pressure monitor readings. After drinking 2-3 cups of the drink, there is an increased effect on brain activity. Thus, it goes from a resting state to a hyperactive phase, due to which caffeine is often classified as a “psychotropic” drug.

By affecting brain functions, there is a reduction in the release of adenosine, which is necessary for the correct transmission of impulses. Neurons are sharply excited, this lasts for a long time, after which severe exhaustion of the body is possible.

There is also an effect on the adrenal glands, due to which the amount of “stress hormones” in the blood increases. As a rule, their production occurs during stress, anxiety and fear. All this leads to acceleration of the heart, rapid blood circulation, and spasms of the vascular system. A person becomes more active, moves more and blood pressure increases.

Green coffee

There are varieties of green coffee that are often used in medical practice to improve metabolism and normalize blood sugar. Like black coffee, green beans should be used sparingly so as not to harm the body.

Based on research, consuming 2-3 cups of a green grain drink reduces the likelihood of developing:

1. Cancer diseases.
2. Obesity.
3. Diabetes.
4. Capillary diseases.

Green beans also contain caffeine, so it is recommended that healthy people without hypertension or those with hypotension consume it. If you are predisposed to hypotension, the drink may have the following effects:

1. The coronary vessels are normalized.
2. The blood vessels of the brain are stabilized.
3. The functioning of certain parts of the brain improves.
4. The work of the heart is stimulated.
5. Blood circulation increases.

After drinking green coffee, the tonometer readings do not decrease, and as doctors’ reviews show, it is not recommended to use any coffee for grades 2 and 3 hypertension. For other people, consumption within the acceptable limits should not cause consequences. However, it must be remembered that an increase in the daily dosage leads to spasms of the vascular system, so various malfunctions in the body are possible.

Does coffee always raise blood pressure?

Hypertension is insidious, so high blood pressure brings a feeling of weakness, vertigo, rapid pulse and can provoke a hypertensive crisis. That is why you should not drink coffee often, but it is better to reduce its daily consumption to a minimum. To prevent arrhythmia and signs of high blood pressure from worsening, it is worth replacing coffee with other invigorating drinks, but without caffeine.

The debate about whether coffee always leads to increased blood pressure has been going on for many years. There is unanimous opinion about the clear effect of this drink on blood pressure and the vascular system.

Repeated experiments have shown that it increases blood circulation, which leads to a jump in blood pressure, but not for a long time, and after that the levels return to normal. The degree of influence of caffeine directly depends on the state of human health.

If it is good and blood pressure is normal, then after coffee its indicators will not change, even if it is several cups in a row. But if there is a stable blood pressure, then the blood pressure will remain at its constant levels, which makes its reduction impossible.

But if hypotension is diagnosed, this drink should be a favorite and frequent one, because it will bring blood pressure back to normal and eliminate a number of negative symptoms.

Coffee with milk

Even if you drink a drink with milk, this does not mean that a certain benefit will occur. The point is in the dosage, the more drink, the more stress for the body. Many scientists have concluded that if you add milk or cream, such substances will reduce the amount of caffeine and neutralize its effect on the body. But it is impossible to completely neutralize the drink.

For hypertension, it is recommended to add dairy products, while using acceptable measures, drinking 1-2 cups per day. In addition, cream or milk makes it possible to replenish the calcium balance in the body, which is lost when consuming coffee. For coffee lovers, without hypertension and other related diseases, it is recommended to drink up to 3 cups of the drink with added milk, then there will be no negative effect.

We only drink coffee correctly

What should hypertensive patients do: not drink at all or sometimes treat themselves to a cup of aromatic drink? How much, when and how, just to improve your well-being.

The only way to use coffee in your diet if you have high blood pressure is this:

1. Do not exceed 1-2 cups of drink per day.
2. Brew a weak drink.
3. Avoid instant coffee.
4. Switch to whole grain coffee only.
5. Don't drink coffee on an empty stomach.
6. Not a sip of coffee after 17.00-18.00.
7. After serving, drink clean water.
8. The interval between doses is 6-7 hours.

When should hypertensive patients not drink coffee?

1. In a state of anxiety.
2. In discomfort due to heat or cold.
3. After increasing the pressure.
4. Before stress and heavy physical work.
5. On an empty stomach or at night.

Combination with other ingredients:

How do different types of coffee work?

Decaffeinated coffee

How harmless is decaffeinated coffee, and who is allowed to drink it and how much? It may seem that such a remedy is a great way out of the situation, but this is not true. The finished liquid still contains some caffeine, but its concentration is lower.

During production, a certain amount of caffeine is allowed, so in a cup of drink there will be about 14 mg of the substance if we are talking about an instant drink and about 13.5 mg in a brewed natural product.

Decaffeinated coffee is not recommended for high blood pressure because it contains many harmful elements that remain as a result of purification of the product. It also contains a lot of fats that are not found in natural grains. No less important is the taste, which not everyone likes.

If you really want to drink coffee, then it is better to make a cup of natural, brewed, but not strong, with the obligatory addition of milk or cream. Or simply use a substitute in the form of chicory.

Is caffeine a drug? Or not

Caffeine is an alkaloid found in cocoa beans and tea leaves. It has a psychotropic effect, stimulates the functioning of brain cells and the nervous system. Caffeine increases blood pressure by increasing the following:

• vascular tone;
• heartbeats.

Caffeine blocks adenosine, which causes drowsiness, relaxation, replaces it and stimulates a surge in performance, vigor and energy. Adrenaline and dopamine, which increase mood and heart rate, are also found in coffee.

After drinking caffeine-containing drinks, a person’s blood pressure temporarily rises, their health improves, but tachycardia appears. Over the next few hours, people’s mood, performance, and activity increase, but then fatigue, lethargy, and drowsiness set in.

A person feels a decline in vitality and takes coffee again to improve tone and well-being. This is how coffee addiction is formed, and when this drink is abused, a complex of the following symptoms appears:

• dizziness;
• headache;
• hyperemia of the skin;
• increased blood pressure;
• tachycardia.

Since caffeine increases blood pressure, it is recommended for people suffering from hypotension. These patients have reduced blood vessel tone, so they are advised to drink caffeine-containing drinks daily to increase blood pressure. The number of coffee intakes is individual for everyone and depends on the state of the body.

An excellent remedy for increasing blood pressure is a cup of hot coffee taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

Caffeine has a beneficial effect on liver function and stimulates metabolic processes in the body, so its use is recommended during weight loss diets. But you need to drink coffee without sugar.

In addition, the drink stimulates respiratory function well and has a positive effect on patients with bronchial asthma. Coffee improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract because when consumed, more gastric juice begins to be released, which increases the ability to digest food.

Let's start with what everyone knows. The stimulating effect of coffee is due to the caffeine it contains. But how much caffeine can be contained in one cup of the invigorating elixir?

It turns out that the matter is not only how much powder you take for preparation, but also the caffeine content in it. Moreover, if 100% of what is contained in the spoon gets into the drink from instant coffee, then when brewing ground coffee, not all of the stimulating substance will end up in the cup.

Grinding and even brewing method matter. But on average, a cup can contain from 40 to 60 mg of caffeine. Instant coffee has a slightly larger tonic component, from 60 to 100 mg.

This is explained simply. When preparing a granular extract from grains, the taste and aroma almost completely disappear. And manufacturers do not need to add expensive and aromatic, but less strong Arabica.

Preference is given to cheap Robusta, which has a much higher caffeine content. And to obtain ground coffee, they take a mixture of two varieties. One gives the drink strength, the second – aroma. In general, the strength of the drink is noticeably lower.

What does the number 60 mg mean? For comparison, a Citramon tablet for headaches contains half as much caffeine as a cup of aromatic coffee. And in soluble form – three times more than in a tablet!

Some people feel great after the second cup, but after the third they begin to feel sleepy. But for most, the second cup will already be excessive. You shouldn't drink coffee in one gulp, you need to savor it in sips. Then the enjoyment of the aroma will last longer, and you won’t be able to drink a second cup.

How does coffee affect people with different blood pressure? Doctors do not keep statistics on the effect of coffee on those who currently have high blood pressure. This is understandable; a normal doctor is unlikely to offer such a person a cup of drink with a high caffeine content.

A person's addiction to coffee is sometimes compared to drug addiction. Of course, this is incorrect.

A person who is accustomed to smoking tobacco feels very bad without cigarettes. Irritability and headache appear.

A coffee drinker will simply be less energetic. Drowsiness and general weakness may appear in the late afternoon.

And in the morning and during the day, if you got enough sleep at night, everything will be fine.

Another thing is that those who are used to drinking coffee constantly begin to increase the frequency of consumption. Sometimes during the working day - four cups, plus in the morning before work. This is already a dangerous habit.

After all, the brain of such a person works under pressure all day. And even those who have low blood pressure and really feel better after drinking coffee should not drink more than two cups a day. The fact is that coffee removes calcium from the body. Frequent consumption of coffee leads to depletion of not only the nervous system, but also the musculoskeletal system.

Intracranial pressure

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

In 90-95% of people, high blood pressure develops regardless of lifestyle, being a risk factor for diseases of the brain, kidneys, heart, vision, AS WELL AS HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES! In 2020, scientists discovered a relationship between the mechanisms of increasing blood pressure and blood clotting factor. Read more "

If increased intracranial or ocular pressure is diagnosed, then using coffee is strictly prohibited. Most often, an increase in intracranial indicators occurs due to spasms of cerebral vessels, and caffeine only makes them stronger. This provokes circulatory problems, as well as a general deterioration in health.

For intracranial hypertension, it is necessary to drink drugs that will increase the lumen of blood vessels and normalize blood circulation. In this case, the negative symptoms will pass and will not appear. There is no need to conduct experiments on your own, they will only do harm.