Is caffeine bad or good for your heart health?

Caffeine, a chemical compound commonly found in tea, coffee, and cola, is widely consumed all over the world. While a dose of caffeine can you a temporary physical and mental boost, there has been ongoing debate its impact on your heart health.

Is caffeine really good for heart health?

Several studies have been conducted to see if caffeine consumption is directly linked to the risk of heart problems. The results are conflicting. This could be due to the way the studies were conducted and cofounding dietary factors.

Studies conducted by the Journal of the American Heart Association claims that high doses of caffeine can raise your blood pressure and heart rate temporarily, which can be dangerous for heart patients. Nevertheless, moderate consumption of caffeine, for example – drinking 1-2 cups of coffee every day, does not seem to be harmful enough to disrupt your heart’s rhythm and lead to atrial fibrillation.

In another study, researchers found that even people drinking significant amounts of caffeine daily do not experience arterial stiffness. Total 8412 participants were divided into three different groups based on their caffeine consumption habit. The categories were –

• People who consumed one or fewer cups of caffeine a day
• People who consumed 1-3 cups of caffeine every day
• People who consumed over 3 cups of caffeine per day

When comparing the degree of arterial stiffness amongst the three groups, researchers could not find any difference between heavy and moderate caffeine drinkers, and those who consumed one or fewer cups of caffeine per day.

These results indicate that even consuming considerable amounts of caffeine may not have an ill effect on your heart.

The Bottomline

Different studies yield different result regarding the effects of caffeine on heart health. More studies need to be conducted to establish a direct link between the two. Nevertheless, you should watch your caffeine intake to prevent or reduce the risk of various health issues.