Coffee is a beverage brewed from coffee beans and served hot or over ice. Regular coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant, that can increase your alertness, but too much may make you jittery. Coffee can be decaffeinated, which is the form often suggested for people with high blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood flow against your arteries that occurs when your heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure can be treated by losing weight when needed, increasing exercise and following a healthy diet. Your doctor may also prescribe blood-pressure medications.
Caffeine and Blood Pressure
According to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine can cause dramatic increases to your blood pressure, but the increase doesn't last long. Long-term caffeine consumption doesn't appear to have any effect on blood pressure, but the Mayo Clinic suggests you limit your caffeine intake to 200 mg per day if you have high blood pressure. You should also speak to your doctor about caffeine use.
Decaffeinated Coffee and Blood Pressure
Decaffeinated coffee doesn't appear to raise blood pressure. According to a study published in 2008 in "Vascular Health Risk Management," subjects who drank five cups of decaffeinated coffee each day for six weeks reduced their blood pressure compared to subjects who continued to drink regular coffee. This agrees with an earlier study on decaffeinated coffee and blood pressure published in 1989 in "Hypertension." If you have high blood pressure, you should speak to your doctor about drinking decaffeinated coffee.
Health Benefits of Coffee
Drinking decaffeinated or regular coffee may have health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, coffee may protect you from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and liver cancer. Coffee also contain beneficial polyphenols that work as antioxidants that may protect your cells from damage due to free-radical oxidation reactions. However, drinking excessive amounts of regular coffee can cause restlessness, anxiety and irritability and may make it difficult for you to fall asleep.
References
- Mayo Clinic: What Does the Research Say About Coffee and Health? Is Coffee Good or Bad for Me?
- "Vascular Health Risk Management": Habitual Coffee Consumption and Blood Pressure: An Epidemiological Perspective; J.M. Geleinjse; October 2008
- Medline Plus: Hypertension
- "Hypertension": Effect of Decaffeinated Versus Regular Coffee on Blood Pressure. A 12- Week, Double-Blind Trial; M. Van Dusseldorp; 1989
- Mayo Clinic: How Does Caffeine Affect Blood Pressure?
