Caffeine
And High Blood Pressure: Do I Really Have
to Give Up Coffee?
Caffeine can be found in numerous drinks, not just coffee. If your
doctor suggests reducing or eliminating caffeine, all other drinks in
which it is found, such as tea, energy beverages, colas and soft
drinks, will also have to be prohibited. Most physicians believe caffeine
and high blood pressure simply are a poor combination.
The dangers of caffeine and high blood pressure are often
likened to
that of a lit match and gasoline, in that the two should be kept as far
apart as possible. But researchers suggest that since caffeine only
causes a temporary increase in blood pressure, it does not always have
to be eliminated completely.
While there is no proven link that caffeine in and of itself causes
high blood pressure, if a person has elevated blood pressure or
hypertension, it may be wise to reduce its intake. Even the temporary
spike in blood pressure from caffeine can be dangerous to a person with
uncontrolled high blood pressure.
There may be a few people with high blood pressure who develop a
tolerance for caffeine and thus are not affected by the caffeine and
high blood pressure problem. It is always best to heed the advice from
your doctor before resuming unregulated consumption.
Getting the Coffee Taste Without
the Kick
For those who simply cannot bear going without the morning cup (or
two!) of their favorite brew, excellent decaffeinated versions of
coffee, tea and soft drinks abound. There are folks who do not suffer
high blood pressure and who enjoy the taste of coffee but simply do not
appreciate the temporary boost that comes from the caffeine.
If a patient has a pre-hypertension blood pressure reading (above 120
over 80 and under 140 over 90), they may be advised to ingest less
caffeine to prevent their blood pressure from spiking to higher levels.
A person with high blood pressure (any reading at 140 over 90 or
above), however, should limit their caffeine to prevent their blood
pressure from causing even more health problems.
It is also not advisable to drink something containing caffeine just
prior to a blood pressure test. This slight increase in pressure may
give the physician a false high reading leading to a misdiagnosis of
high blood pressure. Some physicians even recommend a fasting diet
prior to a blood pressure test, but normal eating and drinking prior to
a test usually isn’t an issue.
Your health is of paramount importance. You don’t have to
give up
coffee if it doesn’t pose a problem. But for a
person who
consumes a lot of caffeine and for whom high blood pressure is a
concern, the best course would be to reduce or eliminate the caffeine,
regardless of its source. If caffeine and high blood pressure
don’t play well together for you, it is time to make a change
for
your best health.
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