Drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may double your risk of dying from heart disease

Japanese scientists found that people whose blood pressure was above 160/100 mm Hg. Art., which was considered extremely high, were twice as likely to die from heart disease compared to people with lower levels.

Interestingly, the increased risk did not extend to people with high blood pressure, which was not considered serious.

The question of whether coffee is good for health or not has long been discussed by scientists. Previous studies have shown that a few cups of coffee a day can reduce all-cause mortality, while others have suggested that the drink can cause cancer.

Caffeine, the most prominent ingredient in coffee, is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate for a short time. It is still unclear whether chronic coffee consumption can cause long-term increases in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or other harmful effects on the heart.

There are also external factors influencing coffee drinking that can cloud the results of this kind of study, such as the amount of milk or sugar a person puts in their drink.

The research team cites previous trials in which a heart attack survivor could prevent future complications by drinking a cup every day. There have also been studies showing that a morning drink reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer.

“The aim of our study was to determine whether the known protective effect of coffee extends to people with varying degrees of hypertension; and also study the effect of green tea, which also contains a lot of caffeine. To our knowledge, this is the first study to find an association between daily coffee consumption and cardiovascular disease mortality among people with severe hypertension,” Dr. Hiroyasu Iso said in a statement.

Almost 20,000 people, including over 12,000 women and over 6,570 men, who lived in Japan from 1990 to 2009, took part in the study. The data was collected as part of the Japan Collaborative Cancer Risk Assessment Cohort Study, an annual study that assesses disease risk based on lifestyle choices. Participants reported on their dietary habits, such as how much coffee they drink each day. They also reported on the state of health.

The researchers divided the participants into five groups. The first group was optimal, with a healthy blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg. Art.

The second is with a higher but still healthy blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg. Art.

Any person with a blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg. Art. considered to be suffering from hypertension.

Patients with blood pressure below 160/100 mm Hg. were assigned to category 1, and those with blood pressure above category 1 but below 180/110 mmHg were assigned to category 2. Any participant with a blood pressure greater than 180/110 mmHg Art. was assigned to the 3rd category.

Coffee consumption was not associated with CV mortality in any group other than Category 3. Green tea was not associated with CV mortality in any of the groups.

Interestingly, people who drank just one cup had no noticeable increased risk.

“These results may support the notion that people with severe high blood pressure should avoid excessive coffee consumption. Because people with severe hypertension are more susceptible to the effects of caffeine, the harmful effects of caffeine may outweigh its protective effects and may increase the risk of death,” continued Dr. Iso.

People who drank more coffee were also more likely to be younger, smoked, drank, had higher cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and had poorer nutrition.

High blood pressure can damage arteries and blood vessels throughout the body. Over time, this can cause less oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart. This can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, heart attack or heart failure.

Christina DENISYUK.

Photo: Alamy Stock Photo