Can you drink coffee when you have high blood pressure? Very often perceived as harmful for blood pressure, coffee would, on the contrary, be beneficial for people with high blood pressure. Explanations with Pr Xavier Girerd, cardiologist at Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris.
Coffee is generally used to “wake up” and give energy during the day. A use supported by Professor Xavier Gired, who nevertheless warns that “coffee is a stimulant, and in particular a cardiovascular stimulant among other things: if you drink too much coffee, your heart rate accelerates a little in the hours following its consumption”. However, its consumption has no negative consequences on blood pressure . The expert explains to us how it could even be an ally in cases of hypertension.
High blood pressure: can you drink coffee?
On the other hand, it is not because the heart is fast that high blood pressure is high! Coffee seems to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. "Studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers without excess may have fewer cardiovascular diseases ," informs Professor Girerd. The many scientific data teach us that moderate and habitual coffee consumption (1 to 3 cups per day) has no negative effect on the blood pressure of most people, including those who suffer from high blood pressure . Also, people with high blood pressure do not need to deprive themselves of a reasonable consumption of coffee.
Filter coffee: to lower blood pressure
"Some coffees have a neutral effect on blood pressure and others can lower it," explains Professor Xavier Girerd. It depends on how the coffee is prepared . "What has been more proven is that filter coffee can lower blood pressure, especially if the filter paper is white," informs the cardiologist interviewed. Be careful, this is not to say that caffeine can cure high blood pressure! Professor Gired advises you to keep your consumption habits.
If you are used to drinking coffee, you can continue even with high blood pressure. On the other hand, there is no point in starting to drink coffee when you learn that you have high blood pressure if you did not drink it before. "When you start a new substance, you have all the effects: if you have never drunk coffee, your heart will be racing, you will not sleep," warns Professor Girerd.