The findings of the effects of caffeine on blood pressure are conflicting. However, it appears that our coffee drinking habits do have an impact on blood pressure.
Coffee has long been part of the human diet for more than a millennium, and this habit has sprouted all sorts of coffee drinkers -- from the occasion drinkers to the most avid of enthusiasts. But of course, coffee has had some bad press, stemming from the widespread belief than anything that tastes so good must be bad for you.
But a fact is that: coffee is a nervous system stimulant -- it increases our alertness. Some people are highly sensitive to caffeine that a cup of coffee can interfere with their sleep or make them feel jittery.
The circulatory effects of coffee are more complex than they seem, as the research to date is inconclusive.
Research published in 2015 suggested a rise in systolic blood pressure only among those who regularly did not drink coffee. Another study showed that a daily intake of more than 3 cups of coffee a day did not raise the risk of hypertension. But the risk associated with 1-3 cups a day was significantly elevated.
A 2016 study of 40 healthy daily coffee drinkers showed that blood pressure rose by all forms of coffee but that the rates stayed within healthy ranges. The blood pressure increase was temporary but still detectable 3 hours after intake.
A 2017 study found that people with high blood pressure should be careful when drinking coffee but need not altogether stop.
The review found that while there were older reports of a link between coffee drinking and hypertension, more recent studies suggested either neutral or beneficial effects of 3-4 cups a day.
There's also research suggesting that the amount of coffee that a person drinks determine its impact on blood pressure.
The link between coffee and metabolism is just starting to be assessed. It does tend to boost homocysteine levels, which may increase the risk of stroke and heart attack, but coffee drinkers do not appear to be suffering from these consequences.
According to Harvard Health, espresso, Turkish, plunger pot, and boiled coffee can raise levels of cholesterol, but perked, filtered, and instant coffee does not. Coffee does make the bronchial tubes wider, which can be beneficial for people with asthma.
Coffee and blood pressure construct a complicated equation, but at the end of the day, the choice is yours when it comes to coffee. If drinking coffee starts to make you feel uneasy in any kind of way, then it's time to give it up.
