Coffee, tea, pop, and energy drinks have one thing in common: caffeine. The compound, found naturally in some foods and added to others, is valued for its ability to make you feel alert and boost energy levels (as anyone who needs their morning coffee knows!).
You may, however, be impacting your heart health when you order your morning beverage. In some people, caffeine can increase blood pressure.
If you don’t drink caffeine often, it is more likely to cause a brief rise in your blood pressure. Experts are not sure why this happens. Some think it causes the adrenal glands to release more adrenaline. Others think that caffeine blocks a hormone that keeps arteries widened.
People who drink caffeine often may develop a tolerance to caffeine. For many people, caffeine no longer impacts their blood pressure and will not increase hypertension risk in the long run. It’s considered safe for these people to drink caffeine in moderation.
Others, however, may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, even with regular consumption. You can learn how it impacts you through trial and error.
To test the impact of caffeine on your blood pressure, take a blood pressure reading as you would normally. Then, drink your caffeinated beverage of choice and take a reading again around 30-120 minutes later. If your blood pressure has increased by 5-10 points, you may be sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
If caffeine does seem to impact your blood pressure readings, talk to your doctor about whether you should eliminate caffeine or simply decrease your consumption. Cutting out caffeine completely can cause headaches; it’s better to cut back gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.