What happens if you drink coffee during or after a heart attack?

Is it possible to drink coffee after a heart attack?

The dangers of coffee for the cardiovascular system have been talked about for a long time. Previously, doctors 100% forbade patients who had suffered a heart attack from drinking coffee, even in minimal quantities. But due to data obtained in recent years, everything is not so clear, and more and more cardiologists are more accepting of their patients’ coffee consumption. However, there is no clear answer to the question of whether you can drink coffee after a heart attack. Everything is individual. So who can’t, who can, and which one? How not to give up your favorite drink and not harm yourself?

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures at an early stage of the development of myocardial infarction significantly increase the patient’s survival rate. Basic procedures:

1. Electrocardiography.
2. Echocardiography.
3. Analysis of blood plasma for proteins MB-CPK, AST, LDH1 and troponin. With MI, their indicators increase within 1–48 hours.

One of the main methods of early diagnosis by recording and simultaneously studying the electric fields of the beating heart gives an almost unambiguous answer to the question of whether the patient has a myocardial infarction.

On the electrocardiogram during myocardial infarction (the first six hours, the developing stage), there is a large dome-shaped rise in the ST segments merging with the T wave, followed by widened low Q waves. The R amplitude also increases. At the same time, some patients may experience QS forms of GI, mainly in the localization of myocardial infarction.

With large-focal lesions, a quarter of all patients have no significant changes in the electrocardiogram, especially if the MI is repeated or intraventricular block occurs. In this situation, the indicator of the disease is the sequence of changes in QRS in relation to ST, observed after taking readings of a series of ECGs during the day.

The acute stage of the period from six to seven days after the attack is characterized by a negative T-wave and an ST segment that approaches the isoline.

Late diagnosis

Late delayed diagnosis of MI consists of coronography or myocardial scintigraphy, as well as the above-mentioned ECG - from the 30th day to several years, the patient exhibits a reduced amplitude of the R wave, ST complex on the isoline, as well as a positive T wave and persistent Q.

Research by scientists

For about 10 years, scientists and cardiologists from the University of Massachusetts observed patients who had suffered a heart attack. Those people who drank coffee in moderation lived longer on average than those who preferred tea or other drinks. Over the entire period of control, those patients who drank a cup of coffee daily had an almost 50% lower risk of sudden death.

Scientists from South Korea expressed a similar opinion. The study included more than 25,000 healthy men and women. They measured the level of calcium in the coronary artery, which directly affects the risk of blockage of the coronary vessels and, consequently, the possibility of a heart attack. After analyzing people's habits, including the level of coffee consumption, scientists found that those who drink 1-2 cups a day have more elastic blood vessels and less calcium deposits.

Interestingly, increasing the amount of coffee to 3-5 cups per day did not have a better effect. Perhaps this is due to the large amount of caffeine, which in this case constricted blood vessels.

The explanation for the data obtained as a result of research is in natural substances that are contained specifically in coffee. And it’s not just about caffeine; it is found in approximately the same volumes in tea, but also in natural acids, vitamins, microelements, and antioxidants. They have a positive effect on the ability of blood vessels to be elastic and cleanse them from the inside.

Who can drink coffee after a heart attack and who can’t?

Despite the research results, there is no clear recommendation for all “heart attack” patients. Each body is individual, and there may also be concomitant diseases. You should definitely consult your doctor and monitor your condition.

Symptoms to look out for after a heart attack:

• Shortness of breath developed;
• Swelling of the arms and abdomen appeared;
• Sometimes there is slight dizziness;
• Tachycardia appears periodically;
• During hospitalization there was pulmonary edema;
• Heart failure developed;
• Heart rhythm disturbances appear.

If these factors occur, it is better to give up even one cup of coffee a day, or choose the most gentle concentration. If after a heart attack you feel healthy and there are no serious pathologies, you can start drinking your favorite drink again. Of course, controlling the dosage and strength of coffee.

Symptoms and signs of a heart attack

In most cases, the symptoms and signs of a heart attack are specific and unambiguous; they can be used to diagnose the problem at an early stage. The main clinical symptom is angiotic pain - an intense pain syndrome that forms behind the sternum. Moreover, in some patients the above sensations are very variable, from an almost complete absence of pain to mild/moderate discomfort in the chest. In patients with diabetes mellitus, most often the above symptoms do not appear.

First signs

1. Pain in the chest, less often in the throat, shoulder blade, discomfort in the abdomen (with atypical forms of MI). Lasts from thirty minutes to an hour (sometimes longer), is not relieved by nitrates, only analgesics of the narcotic spectrum are effective.
2. Sticky sweat (half of patients).
3. Nonproductive cough, shortness of breath (in 20–40 percent of cases, usually with large-focal lesions and the asthmatic form of MI).
4. Arrhythmia in the form of atrial fibrillation or extrasystoles.
5. Neurological symptoms (impaired consciousness, dizziness) - with the cerebral form of MI.
6. Girdle pain in the chest (in patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine).

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In a quarter of patients, both early and late symptoms of MI may not appear, and the only indicator of the problem is cardiac arrest.

What kind of coffee can you drink after a heart attack?

Experts strongly recommend drinking exclusively black natural coffee with the addition of low-fat milk. All vitamins and nutrients are contained in natural grains. Milk binds caffeine, and it breaks down a little slower, which means there is no “shock” effect on the cardiovascular system, but you will still feel alert and energized.

It is better not to drink instant coffee after a heart attack. There is, of course, caffeine, but there is almost nothing useful left, and chemical processing adds stabilizers, emulsifiers, and dyes to the composition, which are not useful for a healthy person. There is no need to further clog the vessels.

As for decaffeinated coffee, you can drink it if you have some problems with your heart and blood vessels. But experiment carefully, starting with minimal doses. There is still caffeine there, albeit in smaller quantities. But choose not instant, but grain, ground. This way you will get useful substances from grains that strengthen blood vessels.

• Don't drink something that is too hot or ice cold.
• Do not add heavy cream or milk; avoid whipped cream, which contains a lot of fat and sugar, this can harm blood vessels.
• It is better to drink coffee in the morning, after breakfast, or at least in the first half of the day.

Treatment of heart attack

After the arrival of the medical team, the most important stage of the fight against the disease begins.

1. The prehospital stage consists of eliminating pain and restoring coronary blood flow. For pain relief, the team may use fentanyl with droperidol or morphine with sodium chloride. As an additional remedy - diazepam (all intravenously).
2. Acetylsalicylic acid or clopidogrel intravenously 250–500 milligrams (antiplatelet therapy).
3. Unfractionated heparin (the first two days) intravenous bolus at 60 IU/kg body weight (anticoagulant effect).
4. Streptokinase (1.5 million IU per 100 ml sodium chloride) as thrombolytic therapy.
5. Beta blockers atenolol, metoprolol or propranolol.
6. Other medications as needed as prescribed by a doctor.

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Effects of caffeine on the heart after a heart attack

The main component that has a strong effect on the body is caffeine. With its help, physical and mental activity increases, the processes of higher nervous activity are stimulated, energy and concentration increase.

And the coffee drink directly affects the SS system as follows:

• stimulates the vasomotor center;
• constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure;
• stimulates an increase in heart rate;
• blood circulation through the venous vessels first increases, then decreases;
• increases the intensity of heart contractions.

Is it possible or not?

It is impossible to specifically answer the frequently asked question whether it is allowed to drink coffee after a heart attack. This is due to the individual characteristics of the body, and the reaction of the heart muscle to the drink.

When metabolic processes in the heart muscle are disrupted, changes occur in its response to various stimuli, in particular to caffeine. In this regard, spontaneous consumption of caffeine can provoke serious problems and pathologies in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Who is allowed coffee after a heart attack?

During the post-infarction period, symptoms should be carefully monitored. Coffee is contraindicated for people with:

• shortness of breath;
• swelling of the arms and abdomen;
• slight dizziness;
• tachycardia;
• pulmonary edema;
• heart failure;
• heart rhythm disturbances.

When a person, after experiencing a heart attack, has the above symptoms, then it is worth excluding coffee from the diet; it is not recommended to drink even one cup throughout the day. And if a person feels normal after a heart attack and has no serious pathologies, then after the permission of the attending doctor, you can gradually introduce your favorite drink into your diet.

Which coffee is best?

Experts say that it is allowed to drink only black natural coffee with low-fat milk. It is natural grains that contain all the vitamins and nutrients. With the help of milk added to the drink, caffeine is bound and its breakdown occurs a little slower.

Accordingly, in this case, coffee does not have a strong and sudden effect on the CV system. In this case, the person, as usual, will feel a charge of energy and a surge of strength.

It is better to refuse instant coffee after a heart attack. It contains caffeine, but no beneficial substances. Instead, the taste of the drink is achieved with the help of stabilizers, emulsifiers, and dyes, which are harmful to the body.

Of course, you can drink decaffeinated coffee, especially if you have certain heart or vascular problems. However, you need to experiment with caution and start with small quantities. Preference should be given not to instant coffee, but to grain or ground coffee, this way the body can obtain beneficial substances from the grains that strengthen blood vessels.

Due to the fact that everyone’s body is individual, it is impossible to say whether coffee is allowed after a heart attack or not. It will be useful to some people, while it will cause significant harm to others. Therefore, you can start drinking caffeinated drinks again only after consulting a cardiologist.

Distribution of coffee in the world

Coffee culture in the modern world has become unusually widespread and, in one way or another, affects the majority of the planet’s inhabitants. Few people can resist a cup of this aromatic, invigorating drink in the morning, because even a small portion of high-quality espresso gives an excellent boost of energy.

Coffee is considered one of the most common drinks in the world. It is consumed most of all by residents of Western Europe, the USA and Japan. Finland is the leader in the consumption of coffee drinks. In this country, the per capita consumption of Arabica coffee exceeds 12 kg, which means that almost every Finnish resident drinks about 5 cups of espresso daily.

• Norway;
• Denmark;
• Austria;
• Sweden;
• Switzerland;
• Belgium.

In order not to worsen your own health and not deprive yourself of the opportunity to enjoy this delicious drink every day, everyone should know how and why coffee affects our body, as well as how many cups you can drink daily without compromising your health.

Who will answer the question: is it possible to drink coffee after confirming the diagnosis of myocardial infarction?

After discharge from any hospital department, all patients receive doctor’s recommendations not only on further treatment, but also on lifestyle and nutrition. One way or another, you will have to take medications. But people usually forget about diet. However, people who have had a heart attack pay attention to this. In addition to clarifying further steps for rehabilitation, they try to adhere to a gentle diet. Do not overuse fatty, fried, sweet, peppery, salty foods. And one of the frequently asked questions is: is it possible to drink coffee after a myocardial infarction? And this is an absolutely correct question. Because violation of the diet can lead to re-hospitalization.

Classification of heart attack

Myocardial infarction is classified according to a number of indicators.

Stages of development

1. Acute (several hours after the attack).
2. Acute (up to ten days after the attack).
3. Subacute (up to one and a half months after the attack).
4. Scarring (up to six months from MI).

1. Intramural.
2. Transmural.
3. Subepicardial.
4. Subendocardial.

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The volume of the lesion is small- and large-focal.

Localization of necrosis

1. Left ventricular MI.
2. Right ventricular MI.
3. Septal MI.
4. Isolated MI of the organ apex.
5. Complex localizations.

Course of the disease

1. Monocyclic.
2. Lingering.
3. Recurrent.
4. Repeated myocardial infarction.

1. Myocardial infarction is a spontaneous type that occurs as a consequence of the first coronary event.
2. Ischemic MI caused by insufficient oxygen supply due to anemia, embolism, arrhythmia, hypo- and hypertension, etc.
3. Sudden coronary death with organ failure.
4. PCI-associated myocardial infarction.
5. MI due to stent thrombosis.
6. CABG-associated type of myocardial infarction.

The effects of coffee on the body

Once, the scientist Paracelsus said: “Everything is poison, everything is medicine, both are determined by the dose.” One teaspoon of freshly ground coffee contains about 0.1 grams of pure caffeine. For healthy, passionate coffee drinkers, it is recommended to adhere to the following tactics during the day: no more than 0.3 grams of caffeine, every 3.5 hours. This tactic will help you avoid addiction and keep yourself in good shape. But it is better to take breaks and not drink often in the afternoon.

The system most susceptible to the influence of coffee is the nervous system. This is due to such effects as: expansion of cerebral vessels with an increase in blood flow, and an increase in the speed of biochemical processes. The transmission of impulses in nerve synapses accelerates, this causes a heightened reaction to what is happening around, increases performance, both mental and physical.

The organic acids included in the composition stimulate the digestive system. And here the first pitfall opens. Coffee is strictly forbidden for people with high stomach acidity. And if the acidity is normal, you should eat something before drinking the drink.

After drinking coffee, a slight diuretic effect is observed. Therefore, it is worth replenishing your water balance by drinking 100-200 milliliters of regular non-carbonated water.

Some sources claim that drinking this sugar-free drink increases the breakdown of carbohydrates and lipids. This makes it possible to include it in the diet of diabetics and overweight people.

Can heart patients drink coffee?

Currently, no recommendations contain approval or a categorical ban on drinking coffee in cardiac patients. It has no direct effect on the heart. Its action is indirect and consists of:

• stimulation of the nervous system, increases the frequency of heart contractions. Which can lead to increased ischemia of the heart tissue and a state of fainting. If you have had arrhythmia attacks before, coffee can trigger them,
• narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels leads to an increase in blood pressure,
• Despite the content of calcium molecules in grains, it leaches more of it from the body. This leads to a decrease in contractile force and deterioration of blood flow through the vessels.

Permission to drink the drink is possible if it is well tolerated, the patient is in good health, and there are no contraindications for use. The attending physician, who knows the patient and his body’s reaction to irritating factors, will help to combine all the pros and cons.

After a heart attack

It is important to understand that a heart that has survived a heart attack reacts to all changes in its operating conditions differently than a healthy heart. Therefore, you will have to give up coffee for some period of time. On average this period is three months. The doctor treating the patient then decides. However, there are conditions under which a categorical ban is imposed, these are:

1. Extensive heart attack
2. Extensive infarction with development of heart failure
3. Development of chronic heart and pulmonary failure. In such patients, shortness of breath is most often observed at rest. And the number of heart beats fluctuates within 90 beats per minute and cannot be corrected with medication, because this is a compensatory mechanism.
4. Difficult to control blood pressure (may occur due to the development of renal failure)
5. Severe atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia
6. Development of glaucoma
7. This category also includes people who survived a heart attack safely, without serious consequences. But concomitant diseases provoke a negative impact:

• the nervous system is characterized by rapid excitability, insomnia and an unstable emotional background,
• digestive – provoked by the presence of gastritis, increased motility, hypersecretion or peptic ulcer of the stomach and/or duodenum.

Myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction is rightly called the scourge of the twenty-first century. If several decades ago this cardiac pathology mostly affected men, today young women are also admitted to the intensive care unit. Negative consequences threaten the entire body of the patient. Against this background, diet for myocardial infarction is of paramount importance.

Diet goal

The main goal of the diet for myocardial infarction is to control calorie intake.

By myocardial infarction (MI), doctors mean one of the clinical forms of ischemic disease, characterized by necrosis of a certain area of ​​the heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply. Myocardial infarction disrupts the functioning of the cardiovascular system and sometimes leads to death.

The disease itself develops after obstruction of the lumen of the vessel supplying the myocardium. As modern statistics show, up to half of patients die before arriving at a specialized medical institution (delayed access to medical care), every third of the survivors dies before discharge (various complications).

Unfortunately, in recent decades, poor ecology, a sedentary lifestyle and other negative factors have rapidly “rejuvenated” the age group of patients: myocardial infarction is quite common in 30–40 year olds. Most often, the male part of the population suffers from the disease, since the fair sex is protected from atherosclerosis (the main cause of MI) by female sex hormones until the menopause stage.

The main cause of MI is usually atherosclerosis. In addition, the following circumstances significantly increase the likelihood of developing the disease:

1. High blood cholesterol.
2. Tobacco smoking.
3. Sedentary lifestyle and excess body weight.
4. Diabetes.
5. Great physical activity.
6. Hypertensive crisis.
7. Psycho-emotional stress.
8. High blood pressure.
9. Age after 50 for women and from 30 for men.

Nothing compares to the incredible aroma of strong brewed tea or brewed coffee in the morning. But in certain conditions, doctors advise changing your lifestyle, including giving up invigorating drinks. Therefore, for patients who have suffered a heart attack or other circulatory disorders, a simple question arises: is it possible to drink coffee after a heart attack? Let's look into the issue thoroughly.

What does the aromatic drink consist of? Coffee is a laboratory of invigorating components. The basis of the drink is caffeine. It is responsible for the invigorating effect. Therefore, cardiologists advise completely abandoning it during a heart attack. Trigonelin is the second largest component of the drink. It is an alkaloid that gives a divine aroma, turning preparation and reception into a beautiful ritual. Cardiologists also advise patients with a heart attack to reduce it.

Coffee does indeed increase blood pressure, but this effect is only pronounced if a person drinks coffee rarely

What, in general, does coffee do when it enters the body? Its bean extract:

• stimulates the nervous system. Therefore, it is used for the final rise in the morning. The drink has a positive effect on patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia. A small cup relieves dizziness, stops headaches, and improves performance;
• activates the brain. For this property, coffee bean extract is loved by workaholics. Several cups a day keep concentration at a constant level, protect against overexertion and distraction;
• increases the tone of muscle tissue.

Is it possible to drink tea after a heart attack? It also does not contain caffeine. And this is the main misconception. Green tea contains enough caffeine and catechins to provide an invigorating effect. The drink also contains a lot of fluoride and minerals. Therefore, you should definitely not drink it instead of water during the day.

You can drink coffee after a heart attack, but you should take some precautions

Recommendations for drinking coffee

It is recommended to drink a high-quality drink, especially for patients who have had the disease. This means you need to give preference to either ground grains or grains ground before cooking. You should not drink instant.

During the production of the instant form, the grains are roasted, ground, dried and a mixture of granules is obtained. But in the product itself, only 17% of the composition will be represented by grains. The rest is granulated powder made from acorns, various grains, stabilizers and flavorings. This is done because instant coffee loses the components that provide the aroma, shape and durability of the product. Supplements may provide additional unwanted effects on the body.

Let's clarify the caffeine content. In 1 tsp. – 0.1 grams of caffeine. A noticeable effect for a healthy person is provided by 0.2-0.3 grams. This means that for cardiac patients the minimum dose is acceptable, one teaspoon of brewed coffee per day. But we cannot ignore the information that the caffeine content in green tea exceeds the content in coffee beans. The concentration in the finished drink will be less in tea, because the number of beans will exceed the number of tea leaves. So you shouldn’t drink both coffee and green tea on the same day, it’s better to alternate. But the effect of green tea will be milder.