How coffee and green tea affect your risks of high blood pressure and heart disease

If you’re a coffee lover but have severe high blood pressure, new research suggests it might be time to reconsider how much coffee you drink. Interestingly, this caution does not seem to apply to green tea.

Here’s what the study discovered and why moderation is essential.

The research revealed a significant link between coffee consumption and heart disease risk in individuals with severe high blood pressure.

Specifically, people with blood pressure readings of 160/100 mm Hg or higher who drank two or more cups of coffee daily faced double the risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who avoided coffee altogether.

However, drinking just one cup of coffee a day or consuming green tea regularly did not increase the risk, even though both beverages contain caffeine.

This finding may seem surprising given coffee’s well-documented health benefits. Previous studies have suggested that one cup of coffee per day could reduce the risk of death in heart attack survivors and even help prevent heart attacks or strokes in healthy individuals.

Coffee has also been linked to benefits like better appetite control, improved alertness, a reduced risk of certain chronic illnesses, and lower rates of depression.

But as with many things in life, balance is key. Too much coffee can have negative effects, such as increasing blood pressure, causing heart palpitations, inducing anxiety, and interfering with sleep.

For those with severe high blood pressure, the risks of excessive coffee consumption appear to outweigh the benefits.

The research involved over 6,570 men and 12,000 women aged 40 to 79. Among those with severe high blood pressure, drinking two or more cups of coffee daily doubled the risk of heart disease-related death compared to non-coffee drinkers.

This suggests that caffeine’s effects on heart health become more harmful in people with very high blood pressure.

Unlike coffee, green tea did not increase the risk of heart disease-related death, even in those with severe high blood pressure. This could be due to the presence of polyphenols—natural compounds in plants that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

These compounds may offset the potential harms of caffeine, making green tea a safer option for individuals with high blood pressure.

If you’re managing high blood pressure, prioritizing heart health is crucial. Here are some essential tips:

Monitor Your Blood Pressure: Regularly check your blood pressure and follow your doctor’s advice on how often to measure it.
Take Your Medication: Stick to your prescribed treatment plan. Missing doses can lead to dangerous blood pressure spikes.
Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-sodium options while limiting added sugars and unhealthy fats.
Stay Active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, like walking, swimming, or cycling, to help lower blood pressure.
Manage Stress: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to reduce chronic stress.
Quit Smoking: Smoking raises blood pressure and damages the heart. Quitting offers immediate and long-term benefits.
Limit Alcohol: Keep alcohol intake to one drink per day for women or two for men, as excessive consumption can elevate blood pressure.

For those with severe high blood pressure, it may be wise to limit coffee to one cup per day—or switch to green tea.

While coffee offers health benefits for many people, too much can be harmful for those already at risk of heart disease. Green tea, with its protective antioxidants, may be a safer and more beneficial alternative.

Ultimately, everyone’s health needs are different. Consult with your healthcare provider to create a personalized plan for managing your blood pressure and safeguarding your heart health.

And next time you consider that second cup of coffee, think about whether it’s the best choice for your heart.

If you care about health, please read studies about the benefits of low-dose lithium supplements, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.

For more health information, please see recent studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and results showing 6 best breads for people with heart disease.