If you’re a huge fan of caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and energy drinks, it is a wise decision to cut back especially when you have a history of high blood pressure.
Short Answer: Yes, too many cups of coffee can raise your blood pressure.
Caffeine, the main component in coffee, blocks the hormones that widen your arteries. It can also cause your adrenal glands to release more adrenaline leading to increased blood pressure.
For that reason, experts believe that drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day can potentially increase blood pressure.
However, the effects of caffeine vary from person to person depending on the level of activity, tolerance levels, and overall health conditions.
For this article, we’ll discuss why coffee can cause your blood pressure to rise and how to avoid it. That way, you can enjoy and appreciate your cuppa better.
So, let’s get to it!
How Long Does A Cup Of Coffee Affect Your Blood Pressure?
Coffee affects blood pressure up to three hours after consumption.
Related studies showed that the 200 to 300 mg caffeine from coffee can result in 8 mm Hg and 6 mm Hg in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively.
This result was observed for up to three hours after consumption.
Here are a few tips that can help you control your blood pressure in general:
- Exercise.
- Lose some weight.
- Go for healthy diet.
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Consult the doctor from time to time.
Click here to view the full cheat sheet for more information.
Can You Drink Coffee If You Have High Blood Pressure?
You can enjoy a cup of coffee or two even if you have high blood pressure.
Also, keep in mind the recommended caffeine intake per day to avoid any adverse effects.
People with high blood pressure can still drink coffee as long as they’re cautious.
However, if you suffer from tremors, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, and heartburns, it is best to stop drinking coffee as it could be one of the symptoms of caffeine sensitivity.
And if you notice that these symptoms are getting worst, I suggest you talk to the doctor.
Will Quitting Coffee Lower Blood Pressure?
Yes, quitting coffee can help lower blood pressure.
Quitting caffeine can help lower your blood pressure and keeps your heart from working hard.
However, that’s not it. You also need to quit your bad habits and engage in a healthier lifestyle to improve your heart health.
Experts believe that quitting caffeine keeps your arteries wide making your blood pressure healthy. So, if you skip coffee, you don’t have to worry about high blood pressure bumps and other potential complications.
If you really want to go caffeine-free, I suggest reducing it slowly to avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, tiredness, and muscle pain.
What Is A Natural Way To Bring Down High Blood Pressure?
Here are ways to bring down your blood pressure naturally without the use of medication:
- Exercise regularly.
- Lose some weight.
- Reduce sodium intake.
- Eat heathily.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.
- Cut back on caffeine.
- Do not smoke.
- Reduce your stress.
Also, it is important to monitor your blood pressure at home to be certain that your lifestyle changes are working.
I suggest purchasing a blood pressure monitor to keep track of your blood pressure. Also, alert your doctor as soon as you feel potential health complications.
Now unto the food that raises blood pressure!
Foods That Raises Your Blood Pressure
Sugary food and foods that are high in saturated fats can elevate blood pressure.
Here are other food and beverages to avoid as they can cause your blood pressure to rise.
- salt
- deli meat
- pickles
- canned food
- processed food with transfat
Salt is one of the major culprits of high blood pressure and heart disease as it affects fluid balance in the blood.
Most of the salt or sodium from the American diet comes from processed food and can also be hidden unexpectedly on some food.
And bad news for deli meat lovers. Processed deli are loaded with sodium and salt as manufacturers use them to preserve, cure, and season their meat products.
Also, those sour and delicious pickles are a big NO because it contains a high amount of salt. The longer it sits in the can, the more sodium it creates.
Canned foods are convenient especially for someone who’s always busy. However, you should stop the habit of consuming anything that is canned as it’s also loaded with sodium.
For example, canned tomato soup contains 1110 mg sodium which is still within the recommended sodium intake per day.
However, it’s not ideal for you to keep adding it to your diet as it can potentially destroy your health in the long run.
For more information about foods that raise blood pressure, watch the video below.
Best Food For High Blood Pressure
A healthy diet along with foods that are high in potassium and magnesium can decrease blood pressure.
I have compiled the following list of best foods for high blood pressure:
- pumpkin seeds
- berries
- beans and lentils
- carrots
- celery
- broccoli
- Greek yoghurt
- spinach
- herbs and spices
- amaranth
- pistachio
Adding foods like leafy greens, berries, lentils, seeds, and citrus fruits to your meals can help maintain blood pressure and improve your wellbeing.
All these food items are exceptionally delicious. So, I suggest including some of it in your daily meals.
Does Decaffeinated Coffee Raise Blood Pressure?
Decaffeinated coffee does not elevate your blood pressure as long as you consume it responsibly.
A study about the effects of decaffeinated vs caffeinated coffee on blood pressure concluded that there is a small fall in blood pressure after drinking decaf for 12 weeks.
In addition, it was also cited in the study that more research must be conducted to prove if a mass switch to decaf coffee can significantly reduce hypertension and other related disorder.
Still, you need to limit your intake as decaf coffee is not totally caffeine-free.
Does Tea Raise Blood Pressure?
Drinking tea cannot raise your blood pressure as long as you drink it in moderation.
Tea contains flavonoid components and is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Based on a study, regular consumption of black and green tea can lower blood pressure as it dilates the blood vessels – also known as vasolidator effect.
Moreover, if compared to caffeine, tea can result in higher blood pressure but the effects may not cause major effects on the cardiovascular system as long as consumed in moderate amounts.
Still, drinking tea in moderation is definitely good for the heart.
Does Alcohol Raise Blood Pressure?
Yes, if you drink too much!
Drinking more than three drinks in one sitting can potentially raise your blood pressure and binge drinking from alcohol can lead to other long-term health complications.
Cutting back alcohol can lower systolic blood pressure to 5.5 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by 4 mm Hg.
If you already have a history of hypertension, it is best to avoid alcohol or drink in moderation to avoid adverse effects.
Moreover, you should keep in mind alcohol contains calories that may also cause weight gain, which is a risk factor for high blood pressure.
So, be careful around alcohol!
Conclusion
Drinking too much coffee can cause hypertension and other caffeine-related conditions.
The good news is, you can still drink a cup of coffee or two even if you have high blood pressure.
However, you should not overindulge as it can potentially lead to caffeine overdose, and worst-case scenario, stroke, or heart attack.
Again, I’m not saying you should stop drinking coffee, however, I strongly suggest drinking in moderation to avoid risking your overall health.
Coffee in moderation can lower blood pressure by a small fraction. Plus, it has other health benefits such as enhanced cognition, higher energy levels, better focus, and improved mood.
Even though coffee can potentially lower your blood pressure, I still recommend a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain healthy blood pressure.
Cheers, and enjoy your cuppa!
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