Is coffee safe to drink with high blood pressure?
According to the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University, most people over the age of 35 consume at least 200 mg of caffeine daily.
Caffeine is like any other drug and comes with side effects.
Potential side effects include:
- Migraine headaches
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Frequent urination or inability to control urination
- Stomach upset
- Fast heartbeat
- Muscle tremors
One 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 91 mg of caffeine.
**Check to see how many ounces your coffee cup holds. One cup may actually be 12 or more ounces.**
Around 400 mg of caffeine/day is generally considered safe for most healthy individuals. This is approximately equal to four 8-oounce cups of brewed coffee.
Safe levels vary among certain conditions.
Heart Disease – Limit caffeine to <200 mg or two 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee per day
Research is conflicting in regards to the impact of caffeine on heart disease. Caffeine is a stimulant leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure. If you have arrhythmia or other heart conditions discuss with your doctor caffeine intake.
High blood pressure – < 200 mg or two 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee per day
Caffeine causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline which leads to a temporary rise in blood pressure. Check your blood pressure before drinking coffee and then again within 30 to 120 minutes after drinking coffee to learn how the caffeine impacts your blood pressure.
Diabetes – <200 mg or two 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee per day
Caffeine can interfere with glucose metabolism resulting in an increase in plasma glucose levels.
Certain medications – Avoid caffeine
When combined with certain medications, such as theophylline, and echinacea, you should avoid caffeine as caffeine may increase negative side effects. Discuss your medications with your doctor and/or pharmacist to know if caffeine is safe while taking the medication.
Caffeine sensitivity – Limit intake
Those who are sensitive to caffeine should avoid coffee consumption but could use trial and error to see how much caffeine leads to negative side effects starting with 50 mg of caffeine (four ounces of brewed coffee).
If you love your morning coffee, but want to cut back, making the change isn’t always easy. Use my guide How to Make Heart Healthy Changes into Lifelong Habits to ensure success.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Health Pro for HealthCentral
