With plenty of great benefits of caffeine, researchers have an ongoing debate about the relationship between caffeine and heart disease. Various studies claim that caffeine is good for heart health, harms the arteries, or exerts no effect on heart health.

Many studies have been conducted to rule out different myths regarding caffeine and heart disease. Let’s have a brief look at what various studies have to say about the link between caffeine and heart disease.

What Is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a drug commonly present in coffee, cocoa plants, energy drinks, and some teas. It is quite popular and demanding due to its reducing fatigue and enhancing concentration. Caffeine adds a bitter taste to your coffee but is quite addicting.

It has been estimated that about 80% of the world’s population is dependent on this natural stimulant to get through their day.
Moderate consumption of caffeine can do wonders to one’s body. Here is a list of some of the remarkable benefits offered by caffeine:

  • Reduced the risk of diabetes
  • Boosted metabolism
  • Enhanced concentration
  • Improved brain functioning
  • Less likelihood of heart disease

Items containing caffeine no doubt offer endless benefits. But not many are on the same page when it comes to caffeine and heart disease.

Impact Of Caffeine On Heart Health:

After a nice cup of coffee, you might be feeling pretty energetic and excited. But have you wondered about the impact of caffeine on your heart health? Well, a controlled quantity of caffeine like 400mg per day does not pose serious cardiac issues.

We have collected some significant information that can help you have a better understanding of caffeine and heart diseases:

Positive Relationship Between Caffeine & Heart Disease:

A research study revealed that the consumption of three cups of caffeine per day could lower the risk of heart diseases by 15% [1].

Not only this, a moderate quantity of caffeine can even lower the chances of stroke by 21% [2].

A weak pumping heart can regain its strength and action with just a slight quantity of caffeine. This occurs due to the excitation of calcium levels caused by caffeine consumption.

Lastly, a research study concluded that three cups of coffee containing caffeine are linked to better cardiovascular health. Whereas people with fluctuating blood pressure should be careful with the quantity as caffeine causes increased blood pressure temporarily.

Negative Relationship Between Caffeine & Heart Disease:

Addicted caffeine consumers have great chances of suffering from cardiac failure, especially those with compromised heart function. People with increased blood pressure are more likely to experience heart disorder since caffeine causes increased short-term blood pressure.

High caffeine levels can result in an abnormal heart pumping, which leads to “atrial fibrillation” [3].

Atrial fibrillation is commonly referred to as “arrhythmia.” This condition causes the heart to beat faster and increases the chances of heart failure and stroke.

Thus, if you are experiencing an increased heart rate after drinking coffee or any other caffeine-containing beverage, you may need to cut back your caffeine consumption.

The Bottom Line:

Caffeine does add excitement to a dull, lazy day, but we can never ignore its negative impacts. If you experience any type of change in your heart rate, immediately consult a doctor. An already weakened heart can result in cardiac failure due to high levels of caffeine in the bloodstream. Caffeine offers countless benefits, but its addiction can compromise one’s health in different ways.

 

References:

  1. Rodríguez-Artalejo F, López-García E. Coffee Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease: A Condensed Review of Epidemiological Evidence and Mechanisms. J Agric Food Chem 2018;66:5257–63. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04506.
  2. Shao C, Tang H, Wang X, He J. Coffee Consumption and Stroke Risk: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of more than 2.4 Million Men and Women. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021;30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105452.
  3. Abdelfattah R, Kamran H, Lazar J, Kassotis J. Does Caffeine Consumption Increase the Risk of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation? Cardiology 2018:106–14. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489843.