Cardiovascular effects of coffee: is it a risk factor?

Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 2005 Spring;20(2):65-9. doi: 10.1111/j.0889-7204.2005.02477.x.

Abstract

Intake of coffee, one of the most common beverages worldwide, is often reported as a cardiovascular risk factor; however, definitive data are lacking. Acute intake of coffee or beverages containing caffeine can increase blood pressure, heart minute volumes, and cardiac index, as well as activate the sympathetic nervous system in nonhabitual coffee drinkers. Interestingly, this is not observed in habitual coffee drinkers. Restriction of coffee or caffeinated beverages is no longer indicated in the seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) guidelines for the treatment of hypertension. In fact, no clear association between coffee and the risk of hypertension, myocardial infarction, or other cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. In contrast to early studies, recent research indicates that habitual moderate coffee intake does not represent a health hazard and may even be associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Caffeine / adverse effects*
  • Caffeine / chemistry
  • Caffeine / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular System / drug effects*
  • Coffee / adverse effects*
  • Coffee / chemistry
  • Coffee / metabolism
  • Cooking / methods
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / prevention & control
  • Drinking Behavior
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipidemias / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Mental Fatigue / prevention & control
  • Myocardial Infarction / chemically induced
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Coffee
  • Caffeine