Found in coffee, chocolate, soda, tea and even some medications, caffeine is a drug common throughout the world. Caffeine comes from some plants, including the kola nut, cacao, coffee beans or tea leaves. While a great deal of people use caffeine on a daily basis, excess amounts can be harmful, even fatal. Even small amounts of caffeine can affect your body, including your blood pressure.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a type of stimulant that affects the central nervous system. When you drink products that contain caffeine, you may feel more alert. Caffeine may also lead to dizziness or headache, particularly after large doses. Caffeine amounts vary among products. One 5-ounce cup of coffee may contain between 60 and 150 milligrams of caffeine. A 12-ounce serving of cola contains between 23 and 64 milligrams of caffeine, while 1 ounce of milk chocolate contains between 1 and 15 milligrams.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is measured as the force of the blood against the inside of the blood vessel with each heart beat, known as the systolic measurement, compared with the resting blood pressure between beats, known as the diastolic measurement. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a normal systolic blood pressure for adults is less than 120 mmHg. Systolic levels over 140 mmHg are considered high. These numbers can be chronically elevated, a condition known as hypertension. Alternatively, systolic blood pressure may rise temporarily due to stress, activity or drugs, such as caffeine.
Effects
Caffeine does not necessarily cause high blood pressure, but it can have an effect on your blood pressure levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine in 2 to 3 cups of coffee can cause your systolic blood pressure to rise between 3 and 14 mmHg. This is typically a temporary rise in blood pressure levels, and its effects are short-lived. The jump in blood pressure could be related to caffeine’s effects on the blood vessels or the fact that caffeine causes the body to secrete more adrenaline, which in turn makes your blood pressure rise.
High Blood Pressure
If you have high systolic blood pressure, talk with your doctor about how much caffeine you should be drinking each day. Your doctor may place limits as to how much caffeine you can take on a daily basis. Read labels to determine how much caffeine is in the soft drinks or coffee that you buy. You can also check your blood pressure 30 minutes after drinking a caffeinated beverage to determine its effect on your systolic blood pressure.
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