Coffee for Heart Health: How too much intake of caffeine could lead to irregular heartbeats

Though there have been reports that regular use of coffee/caffeine has been found to have some benefits from the point of cardiovascular health. It is also been noticed that excess caffeine intake, which probably translates into more than 3 to 4 glasses of coffee in a day, can lead to cardiovascular problems. Caffeine, as such, is a stimulant of the brain, stimulates the heart, and increases the blood pressure. It also stimulates the kidneys to pass out more urine and can lead to dehydration. Caffeine, as such, is present in coffee, tea, chocolates, and a lot of energy drinks.

Ill effects of caffeine intake

Caffeine up to 300 to 400 milligrams per day is safe and does not cause any major adverse effects. That means a person can safely drink up to 4 to 5 cups of coffee a day. However, you should try and avoid coffee in children and pregnant and lactating women.Why? Because coffee causes an increase in the heart rate and an increase in the blood pressure.

How coffee consumption impacts the heart

According to Dr. Ruchit Shah, Consultant, Cardiologist, Saifee Hospital, “People who have high blood pressure and are on antihypertensives should measure their blood pressure at least 2 to 3 hours after a caffeine intake because if you measure the blood pressure immediately after a caffeine intake, it may lead to erroneously high blood pressure readings. Patients who have recurrent palpitations in bracket arrhythmias—that means atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardias—these are all fast heartbeat problems in which the heartbeat exceeds 100 beats per minute.”

According to Dr. Ajit Menon, Consulant, Cardiac Sciences, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, “The increased intake of caffeine is associated with heartbeats and also with an increase in the force of contraction in some cases. This is mainly due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system. And typically, the use of caffeine can stimulate arrhythmias such as atal fibrillation. Patients with underlying cardiovascular disease or previous heart attacks are more prone to cardiovascular abnormalities, rhythm, abnormalities with the use of caffeine.”

Who should avoid drinking coffee?

All such people should limit the intake of caffeine to at least less than 1 cup per day. Well, decaf would not have any major adverse effects on your body except that you might feel a little bit uncomfortable, a little bit of a headache for a couple of days, and then you would get used to it. Though caffeine does not have any major adverse effects, it does not increase the risk of your heart attacks, but people who are intolerant to caffeine should try to refrain.
Do not try to get addicted to caffeine, and if you are addicted, try some de-addiction so that your intake of caffeine is in moderation. It should not be in excess.