How Coffee Affects the Heart: Benefits and Harm, Overdose

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Caffeine accelerates heart rate, increases blood pressure, and stimulates the central nervous system if significant concentrations enter the body. There is more of it in tea than in coffee. Recently, doctors have been less categorical about the dangers of the drink, because studies have not confirmed previously expressed concerns.

How coffee affects the heart in each case should be considered separately based on the individual characteristics of the person, but in general, we can safely say that a couple of cups of the aromatic delicacy will bring more benefit than harm, provided that the person does not suffer from hypertension.

Coffee is dangerous for hypertensive patients and healthy people, if consumed in large quantities.

What effect does caffeine have on the cardiovascular system?

Caffeine is the main substance in the drink, which underlies everything - both beneficial and harmful to the human body. The fewer deviations in health, the less chance of harming blood vessels when consuming it.

An initially healthy heart and the walls of blood vessels not clogged with cholesterol deposits are practically a guarantee that coffee will not cause any harm.

Positive Impact Aspects

Almost any natural product has many beneficial properties. And this alone gives reason to learn about the positive properties of natural coffee and its beneficial effects on the heart and the body as a whole.

Contains potassium and magnesium. Coffee contains a lot of vitamins and microelements, including potassium and magnesium, which are vital for the heart muscle. See also the top 10 foods containing potassium.
Reduces cholesterol. Both freshly ground and instant coffee are recognized as products that lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
Fights infections and removes toxins. It is used in medicine, in particular, for certain infectious diseases, as well as if it is necessary to neutralize the effects of drugs, sleeping pills or poisons that suppress the central nervous system.
Is a stimulant. It gives you the opportunity to cheer up when the body’s strength is running low. It stimulates brain function and affects physical and mental activity, so it is used not only as a tasty drink, but also as a natural energy product.

The invigorating drink has a number of properties that are an additional bonus for the body, in addition to its beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels. This is first of all:

antitumor substances that reduce the risk of developing cancer of the stomach, small and large intestine;
substances that increase performance , mood, and prevent the development of stress even against the background of drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and an unfavorable social environment;
prevention of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, asthma, liver cirrhosis and other diseases.

See also:
9 fruits and vegetables that are good for the cardiovascular system.
Why nuts are important for the heart: what does the science say?

Negative aspects

Like any food product, it may have contraindications, as well as reasons for restriction.

Inappropriate consumption of large quantities can cause dehydration , as it has a diuretic effect. This has a bad effect not only on tone in general, but also on the cardiovascular system. But knowing that about half an hour after drinking a cup of drink you need to drink a glass of drinking water, the problem can be easily avoided.
It flushes calcium and some other microelements from the body , which are necessary for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. This can be prevented by adding natural milk or cream.
With a sharp change in diet and the abolition of regular coffee consumption, the body can respond with depression of the physical and mental state: loss of strength, increased drowsiness, decreased physical and mental activity, hypotension and even real depression.
Caffeine-containing products can aggravate symptoms of existing medical conditions.

The drink is strictly contraindicated for:

stomach ulcers and other inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
renal failure;
neuralgic diseases.

The different effects of the drink are related to the dosage and methods of its preparation. However, it is a myth that this drink can and does kill our heart.

Is it possible to get used to coffee?

Actually it is possible. And this is one of the negative factors associated with coffee. It has long been established that caffeine is a powerful psychostimulant. Caffeine invigorates, increases physical and mental activity, and stimulates blood vessels. This is a kind of doping that our nervous system receives. If you give it too often, your body will get used to it. It will be difficult for him to do without it in the future. Just like any other stimulant. It uses the hidden resources of our body. If you use them too often, the body will begin to suffer. First of all, the nervous system will be depleted. Since she worked with increased load after drinking coffee, her resources will soon be exhausted. Vigor may soon be replaced by fatigue, apathy, nervousness, fatigue and even depression. To improve his condition, a person tries to drink coffee again. So he becomes clearly dependent. The person doubles the dose, and then triples it. In this case, the blood vessels and heart are seriously damaged.

Caffeine can safely be considered a type of drug. It is able to stimulate certain areas of the brain. They are responsible for the fact that we feel pleasure and euphoria. If a coffee lover cannot drink his favorite drink, he develops depression, headache, and drowsiness. That's why you should limit yourself to drinking this drink. But everything is not so scary at all. Just drink no more than two cups of coffee a day, don’t make it too strong, if possible, add cream, milk, and a little sugar to it. This aromatic drink will bring you nothing but cheerfulness, a great mood, help you cope with drowsiness, and warm you up. Just don’t make something cult out of this drink, don’t make yourself dependent on it!

As you can see, coffee can be good for the heart, but it can also be harmful. To keep your heart healthy, do not exceed a reasonable amount of coffee per day. Most nutritionists and cardiologists recommend limiting yourself to two to three cups of medium-strength coffee. In this case, your health will not suffer. But people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases should avoid this invigorating drink.

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How much is acceptable to consume?

Since the study of the drink does not stand still, both nutritionists and doctors are constantly changing their point of view regarding its dosage for different people, depending on the age and condition of the body.

Recent studies by Russian and foreign doctors and biologists have shown that drinking 2-4 cups per day is definitely safe.

If desired, 1 cup of coffee with milk can be drunk even by children starting from 10-12 years old, and by pregnant and lactating women, if they are used to it before pregnancy and there are no other contraindications (kidney failure, inflammation of the gastric mucosa, etc.)

Why does my heart hurt after coffee?

There are two factors due to which a person may feel pain in the heart area after drinking coffee:

Coffee contains caffeine, which increases blood cholesterol. In turn, cholesterol damages blood vessels, narrowing their lumen. It raises blood pressure and increases heart rate. As a result, a person feels pain in the heart. It is worth noting that this is a fairly short-term effect and does not pose any danger to a healthy person. However, this is dangerous if a person has heart disease, which includes hypertension and coronary heart disease.
Coffee contains guaranine, a substance that gradually accumulates in the body and has a negative effect on the psyche. So, a person’s mood can change quickly. Moreover, he begins to be bothered by pain in the heart area, as well as rapid heartbeat. People with an unstable nervous system are especially susceptible to this effect of coffee.

It is important to understand that the described negative effects of coffee on a person are observed only when the drink is abused, so a lot depends on the number of cups drunk per day.

It has been proven that drinking coffee in moderation does not harm the body. The optimal daily intake is up to 4-5 cups. At the same time, medicine has also established that 1-2 cups of coffee per day in healthy people will not cause pain in the heart area.

Should you drink instant drinks?

Instant coffee is more convenient to drink as it instantly dissolves in water. It is sold in three forms: powder, granular and sublimated, which distinguishes them only by the production method and appearance.

In terms of content, for a soluble product they often use not noble Arabica, but a lower grade - Robusta. Additionally, to make powder or granules, the outer layer of the bean, which contains caffeine, is often removed altogether. It can be said that most varieties of surrogate drink do not contain caffeine. It is for this reason that you want to sleep after drinking instant coffee.

But the absence of caffeine does not make it healthier: on the contrary, no one can know exactly what the purchased powder contains and how many elements of the periodic table are mixed in it.

The “invigorating” effect is associated primarily with the effect of getting used to the ritual of drinking the drink and its aroma. Some doctors even consider this addiction to be a real addiction that has nothing to do with a healthy lifestyle.

Concluding that an instant drink has no positive properties for the body, with the exception of psychological ones, we can say that there is simply no point in drinking it, unlike a natural one.

The very rare use of a soluble surrogate by a healthy person will not affect his health in any way, but for a permanent menu it is better to choose a natural product that needs to be brewed.

As for pregnant, lactating, children and sick people, for many of them even one dose of a surrogate may be enough to cause serious health problems.

Which coffee is harmful and which is good for the heart?

It's not just about quantity, but also about the quality of the drink.

Scientists recommend choosing natural black coffee, possibly with the addition of milk.
Green coffee is not healthier as it contains about the same amount of caffeine.
Decaffeinated coffee is healthy because it still contains a small dose. But the problem is that in stores it is usually found soluble, and this is not at all what it is. If you have heart problems, you should try to find a decaffeinated drink in beans or ground.
Instant coffee is prohibited for heart disease. It contains too many chemicals and additives that negatively affect blood vessels, and there is almost nothing useful there.

And a few more words about how to prepare and drink your favorite drink:

The longer coffee is in contact with water, the more caffeine is extracted. A drink from a coffee machine is healthier than one brewed in a Turkish coffee pot or brewed in other ways.
Try adding cardamom as a spice - it has a beneficial effect on the heart muscle.
You should not drink your favorite drink too hot, this stimulates the blood to move faster and the heart beats faster.

Can it cause chest pain?

Many drinkers have noticed pain under their left shoulder blade after drinking it.

But very often people have a number of health problems that they are not even aware of, but the symptoms of which are similar to heart pain. If a person drank a coffee drink and had a chest pain, this could result in illnesses such as:

neuralgia;
stomach ulcer;
gastritis;
pancreatic diseases, etc.

If these problems are excluded by doctors, then it is necessary to understand the answer to two important questions.

Why is this happening?

By affecting the central nervous system, caffeine can cause:

increased excitement,
increased heart rate,
increased blood pressure
and, as a result, heart problems.

Most often this occurs due to exceeding the permissible dose of consumption . Symptoms appear when a person drinks regularly 5-6 cups a day or after the usual normal dose, but in a state of any stress on the body (lack of sleep, acclimatization, increased fatigue, etc.).

What to do if pain has already appeared?

Is it possible to drink coffee if you already have chest pain? If, as a result of drinking the drink, tachycardia appears, the person begins to feel short of breath, or dizziness appears, you need to stop drinking the drink. In this case it is necessary:

place it at a high angle, for example, on a high pillow;
ventilate the room;
give half a liter of clean and still water to drink in small sips;
give the opportunity to rest for a few minutes.

If such attacks occur repeatedly , it is necessary to consult a cardiologist to rule out serious diseases of the cardiovascular system. During the period of examination, it is better to replace the usual taste with a very similar one: high-quality chicory will not only not harm the heart, but will also significantly improve the health of the entire body.

Can coffee make your heart hurt?

As a rule, coffee causes heart pain in people suffering from angina, heart failure and hypertension. After drinking a shot of strong espresso, a pressing pain appears in the chest area.

True, such changes can be observed in an absolutely healthy person. The causes of heart pain from coffee are as follows:

coffee drinks were not consumed for a long time. When receiving an unusually large dose of caffeine, the pulse quickens and chest pain appears;
espresso was drunk under stress , with insomnia, chronic fatigue or after intense physical activity;
the drink is combined with nicotine. Most often, unpleasant symptoms are observed in the morning, when drinking espresso on an empty stomach.

Can this drink stop your heart?

Purely theoretically, coffee can stop the heart. True, you need to drink a huge amount of it. A fatal outcome is possible if a person drinks espresso all day and night, taking very short breaks. Death occurs after at least 70 cups of this drink. Naturally, it is almost impossible to drink such an amount of liquid containing caffeine.

Coffee can have a positive effect on the body even in the presence of a number of heart pathologies. The main thing is to consume it in moderation. Abuse will negatively affect the condition and can lead to aggravation of the situation.

Use for certain diseases

Scientists are still arguing about the admissibility of coffee in the diet of people with cardiovascular diseases. But recently, most doctors agree that a categorical restriction on caffeine is necessary only in very rare cases.

For hypertension

Previously, it was believed that since coffee increases blood pressure, there is no need to drink it if you have hypertension, but should be replaced with a decaffeinated or completely different drink.

But recent research by scientists has shown that such a reaction in the body occurs only in those who usually do not drink at least one cup of the drink a day. Moreover, they found that decaffeinated coffee also only affects those who do not drink an instant decaffeinated substitute. But since the pressure increases even in the second case, then caffeine has nothing to do with it.

CONCLUSION: One cup of coffee a day not only won’t hurt, but can also prevent a sharp increase in blood pressure.

For arrhythmia

Doctors traditionally advise giving up the drink if you are prone to arrhythmias. But targeted medical studies have shown that people who use it are often hospitalized even with the most severe type of arrhythmia - atrial fibrillation.

However, even when drinking more than 4 mugs a day, such cases are much less than with those who do not drink coffee at all. Moreover, if arrhythmia is combined with a too rare heartbeat, then a portion of natural coffee can normalize the heart rhythm.

CONCLUSION: if you like the drink, then this is not a reason to refuse it due to arrhythmia; on the contrary, moderate consumption will prevent the onset of the disease.

With tachycardia

Caffeine-containing products are not capable of causing tachycardia on their own. But after consuming them, the following symptoms sometimes appear:

cardiopalmus;
feeling of lack of air;
wobbly legs;
darkening of the eyes;
nausea;
sudden sweating.

This suggests that caffeine either provoked the manifestation of some other disease, or entered the body against the background of:

overwork;
lack of sleep;
stress;
inflammatory processes in the body, etc.

ATTENTION: if the symptoms of tachycardia listed above appeared against the background of drinking an instant decaffeine-free drink, then this only means that the surrogate is saturated with harmful chemicals, it is undesirable to use it even for healthy people and is strictly forbidden for pregnant, lactating and children.

For angina pectoris

Caffeine cannot cause angina. This is a disease accompanying atherosclerosis. And if it already exists, then caffeine will interfere with the normal functioning of the heart, since the lumens in the arteries pumping blood to the heart are reduced.

From a lack of blood, the heart muscle will suffer from oxygen deficiency, and as a result, coronary spasm may occur.

Therefore, if angina pectoris is diagnosed, then it is better to drink chicory and other healthy and tasty drinks.

For heart failure

Many doctors traditionally prohibit the use of caffeine-containing products for heart failure.

But a lot of recent medical research shows that caffeine is safe for this disease and cannot cause heart failure and arrhythmia if we are talking about reasonable consumption of the product.

After bypass

After surgery in the form of coronary artery bypass grafting, a gentle diet is recommended for a long time.

But only alcohol in any of its forms is considered a strictly prohibited drink.

Regarding coffee, most doctors agree that if you really want it, you can drink it weakly, with the addition of milk.

The diet can also be diversified with instant chicory, barley drink, weak teas, especially herbal teas, hibiscus, mate.

After a heart attack

A heart attack is a serious cardiovascular disease. But there is no direct connection between myocardial infarction and coffee: the aromatic drink has never been the cause of the disease.

Meanwhile, a strong invigorating effect is not needed during the recovery period: the body needs long-term rest after an illness.

If the patient is pleased with the aroma and is accustomed to small doses of the drink, then you can always drink one cup a day in half with milk: it will not harm, but will bring positive emotions that are very necessary for the recovering person.

For ischemic disease

Until the 90s of the 20th century, it was believed that the drink was strictly contraindicated for cardiac ischemia.

But research over more than 30 years has shown that the disease occurs just as often in those who have not consumed any caffeine-containing products for decades as in those who have regularly included the drink in their diet for 30 years.

IMPORTANT: if ischemia is also combined with low blood pressure, coffee is even indicated for the patient.

A wonderful invigorating drink is in vain accused of harming human health.

How does coffee affect the heart?

The benefits and harms of coffee have been debated for three centuries in a row. Modern scientists are armed with the results of laboratory research and numerous experiments. People began to drink coffee en masse back in the seventeenth century. Since then, people have begun to notice some correlation between the deterioration of their condition and frequent consumption of coffee. Let us emphasize that we are talking specifically about frequent drinking of strong coffee. If you drink only a couple of cups of weak drink a day, you are in virtually no danger. If you have become addicted to this drink, it’s time to be wary! You risk causing problems with the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, including the heart, central nervous system, tooth enamel, etc. If your heart hurts after coffee, you should avoid the drink altogether.

So, despite all the research, coffee still does not have a clear characteristic. Scientists agree that high-quality coffee combines both positive and negative effects on the body. Much depends on the dosage and individual tolerance of the components that make up coffee. And by the way, there are about a thousand of them. All the ingredients in coffee and how they affect the body have not yet been identified. But the main component of this popular drink – the alkaloid caffeine – has been well studied. It is he who is largely responsible for all the positive and negative properties of the aromatic drink.

To understand how coffee specifically affects your body, listen to how you feel after your next cup. You should not experience any discomfort. If your heartbeat quickens, anxiety, agitation, or headache appear, then it is better for you to avoid this drink. This means that your body does not metabolize it correctly.

Let's look in detail at how coffee is harmful to us and how it can be beneficial.

Video on the topic

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Properly prepared (not soluble!), consumed regularly, but in small doses (1-4 cups per day depending on age, lifestyle and health), it can not only deliver a lot of positive emotions, but also prevent many severe and even fatal diseases.

This applies to the entire body and the cardiovascular system, with the exception of a narrow range of pathological conditions. Coffee for the heart, when handled correctly, prevents diseases and maintains vitality.

Does coffee harm your heart?

If you have any diseases of the heart muscle, the use of the product must be agreed with your doctor, the dose is strictly limited, it is important to be attentive to your well-being. Is it possible to drink coffee if you have arrhythmia? Only a specialist can answer in each specific case. The drink increases blood pressure and increases heart rate, so it is generally accepted that it is contraindicated for this disease. But modern studies have shown that if you have heart arrhythmia, you can drink coffee in limited quantities, adding cream. An important caveat is the need to monitor your well-being and remove it from your diet if any side effects occur.

On a note! The effect of coffee on the body depends on the gender of the person. So, with atrial fibrillation in women, drinking the drink reduces the manifestations of the disease, and in men the risk of its occurrence increases.

Coffee does not harm a healthy heart, as confirmed by studies conducted in various countries.
Moderate consumption of a quality product reduces the likelihood of cardiovascular disorders, including the risk of heart attack and stroke. But all this applies to healthy people. Only a specialist can tell whether coffee is harmful in each specific case. For example, angina is a sudden onset of chest pain that occurs due to a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. Consumption of the drink leads to the removal of fluid from the body and constriction of blood vessels, which aggravates the condition of people with this pathology. Therefore, coffee is not advisable for angina pectoris. For avid coffee drinkers, your doctor may allow periodic consumption of a weakly brewed drink diluted with milk. The same recommendations are given when answering the question whether coffee is possible for tachycardia.

On a note! The opinions of domestic and foreign experts about the dangers of coffee on the heart muscle differ. Russian doctors often advise completely eliminating the drink from the diet in case of any heart problems.

Is it possible for hypertensive patients to drink coffee?

The main problem of the disease is that not everyone knows that they have this pathology. Considering the fact that coffee has a positive effect on a healthy person and can cause harm if a number of heart disorders are ignored, then it is important to know the state of your health. Symptoms of hypertension include:

blurred vision;
redness of the ears;
cold hands and feet syndrome;
blood clots noticeable during nasal debridement;
vascular spot on the back of the head;
headache;
sense of anxiety;
increased sweating.

It is not advisable for hypertensive patients to drink coffee, but following a number of recommendations will reduce possible harm from drinking it. Replace strong espresso with latte, cappuccino, and reduce the dose of raw materials when preparing the drink. Use high-quality natural grains. Reduce consumption to 1 cup per day. If you have hypertension, it is undesirable to drink coffee immediately after waking up, because at this time blood pressure levels are greatly increased and you need to wait until they normalize.

If you have hypertension, it is not advisable to abuse coffee.

Can coffee make your heart hurt?

If a person who considers himself healthy has heart pain after drinking a cup of coffee, then this is a clear reason to consult a cardiologist. Painful sensations can only appear with excessive consumption or the presence of certain cardiac pathologies. Therefore, in this case, an examination is necessary in order to promptly identify possible disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle. Until a conclusion about the state of health is given, the use of the drink should be excluded or at least limited.

It is important not to self-diagnose. Whether the heart hurts because of coffee or this is how intercostal neuralgia manifests itself, only a specialist can determine. Also, pain may be completely unrelated to drinking the aromatic drink.

Why is coffee dangerous for human blood vessels?

Coffee helps remove fluid from the body.
The vasoconstrictor effect of the product is used for headaches that arise due to the dilation of blood vessels in the brain. The same property affects the functioning of other organs and systems. Because of this, the gastrointestinal tract functions better, digestion accelerates. An interesting phenomenon is that muscle vessels (including the heart) in the periphery dilate. This property improves well-being by increasing blood circulation and increasing blood pressure.

The effect of coffee on the heart and blood vessels depends on the person’s health and the amount drunk. Excessive consumption has a negative effect on the body and can lead to the development of various diseases. We must not forget about the drinking regime, since the drink helps remove fluid from the body, which can cause dehydration, blood thickening and unnecessary stress on the heart and blood vessels.

Contraindications for use

People who suffer from:

atherosclerosis;
heart rhythm disturbances;
hypertension;
coronary heart disease;
pain in the area of the heart muscle;
individual intolerance to the product.

Note! Children and the elderly should not drink coffee due to its negative effects on health.
Read about how the drink affects the body after 50 years of age in this article.
Also find out at what age children can drink coffee.

Does addiction appear?

Coffee can cause addiction.
An addiction to daily consumption occurs in individuals who consume coffee more than 3 cups per day and gradually increase the amount and frequency of intake. A symptom of the development of caffeine addiction may be the desire to get a cup of aromatic drink at any cost.

The body in this state may respond to a sharp reduction in coffee consumption with drowsiness, headache, nausea, chills, mood swings, and a feeling of loss of energy. The duration of manifestation of such conditions can reach up to 9 days.

When coffee addiction occurs, the effect of caffeine on the cardiovascular system increases. A person gradually increases the amount, strength or frequency of drinking the drink. The stimulating effect and constant stress on the heart and blood vessels increase the risk of developing pathologies and lead to a deterioration in well-being.

The effect of coffee on other components of the human body

This drink affects not only the human heart, but also its other organs. For example, you should not drink coffee on an empty stomach, even if it has become a habit. In fact, coffee can help digestion, but not when it is drunk in the morning, because the drink contains acid. Thanks to adrenaline, which is produced more strongly after drinking coffee, vision improves: a person begins to concentrate better on certain things, and concentration also increases.

Many are accustomed to seeing coffee as an energy drink - this is true. This drink is a stimulant, which increases productivity and can add energy in the morning. But do not forget that later, when the effect of the drink wears off, a person may feel even more tired. In this case, it is recommended to replace coffee with herbal tea.