Warning drinking too much coffee could put you at risk of silent killer disease
Dr Chris Steele shares diet tips on reducing blood pressure
The UK is a coffee-loving nation, consuming almost 100 million cups a day.
While it can help keep us alert and has been shown to have certain benefits when consumed in moderation, it does also come with some risks.
One expert warned against drinking more than four cups a day due to the effect it could have on your blood pressure.
Speaking with Express.co.uk , pharmacist for Chemist Click – Abbas Kanani – said: “Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day may increase your blood pressure, according to the NHS.”
Your blood pressure refers to the amount of force at which your heart has to pump to keep blood moving around the body.
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Having high blood pressure – known as hypertension – is particularly dangerous as it places extra pressure on your organs and blood vessels.
It is a major cause in medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes.
Abbas explained some of the theories behind why coffee intake affects blood pressure.
He said: “The response to caffeine differs from person to person.
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“Some research has suggested that caffeine could block a hormone that helps keep arteries widened, while others have found that caffeine causes the adrenal glands to release additional adrenaline, which causes blood pressure to increase.”
He advised lowering your overall caffeine intake to keep your blood pressure healthy.
“Consider cutting down on coffee, tea or other caffeine-rich drinks, such as cola and some energy drinks,” he added.
His advice is backed by scientific research by the American Heart Association (AHA).
A study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association last year, found that hypertensive patients doubled their risk of dying by drinking two or more cups of coffee daily.
More specifically their risk of a fatal heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease was increased.
However, drinking green tea or just one cup of coffee a day did not have the same impact.
“Drinking too much coffee has been shown to raise blood pressure and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations and trouble sleeping,” the AHA says.
The NHS advises drinking plenty of other fluids – not just tea and coffee.
“Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day may increase your blood pressure,” it says.
“If you’re a big fan of coffee, tea or other caffeine-rich drinks, such as cola and some energy drinks, consider cutting down.
“It’s fine to drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it’s important that these drinks are not your main or only source of fluid.”
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