Too much of anything is as bad as too little. The same goes for coffee, which wakes you up from a hazy mind in the morning.
Regular consumption of more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day may increase the risk of heart disease in healthy people, according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology Asia 2024 Annual Meeting, held from June 16 to 18 in Delhi, India.
“Regular caffeine consumption can increase blood pressure and heart rate by disrupting the parasympathetic nervous system,” said Dr. Nency Kagathara, an internal medicine physician at Jiddus Medical College and Hospital in Dahod, India. “Our study aimed to determine the effect of regular caffeine consumption on heart health, particularly on recovery of heart rate and blood pressure,” Dr. Kagathara added.
The researchers defined chronic consumption as consuming caffeinated beverages more than five days a week for more than a year. The study focused on carbonated beverages such as tea, coffee, cola, and energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster.
The study involved 92 healthy adults aged between 18 and 45. Of those, 19.6% were classified as chronic caffeine users, meaning they consumed more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. This is equivalent to four cups of coffee, 10 cans of soda, or two cans of energy drink.
Tests on blood pressure and heart rate showed that consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine per day significantly affected the autonomic nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure over time.
These symptoms were more pronounced in people who consumed more than 600 mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to about six to seven cups of coffee.
“Because caffeine affects the autonomic nervous system, regular caffeine consumption can put even healthy people at risk for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases,” said Dr. Kagura. “Raising awareness of these risks is essential to improving everyone’s heart health.”
According to EurekAlert, a science news site of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), high blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. High blood pressure weakens the heart over time and is a major risk factor for heart disease. In addition to caffeine consumption, there are several factors that can cause high blood pressure, including alcohol, smoking, aging, family history, and salt intake. Increasing physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, and making other lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, noted that the effects attributed to caffeine may be due to other factors, such as age or fitness level.
“While it’s true that blood pressure and heart rate are important determinants of health, the best way to judge the health effects is to look at actual cardiovascular outcomes, such as stroke, heart attack, and heart rhythm disturbances,” Dr. Marcus told Yahoo Life.
There are also studies that suggest coffee may be good for your heart. For example, a 2023 study found that regular caffeinated coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia). Another 2021 study found that the caffeine in coffee may reduce the risk of heart failure.
Reporter Park Hae-sik, Donga.com [email protected]
2024-08-16 16:45:40