Sunday, 26 November 2006
Friday, 24 November 2006
Coffee and high blood pressure.
What causes high blood pressure.Well in simple terms it is the narrowing of the arteries throug the build up of fatty deposits(mainly chloresterol) and the hardening of the arteries as part of the natural ageing process.These conditions mean that to get through the arteries the heart has to pump the blood faster so that it gets to all the tissues.Therefore in a relatively fit man the effects of high blood pressure will be less marked than in an unfit man.
There have been several studies looking at the effects of caffeine intake on cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.Caffeine is a stimulant in its most simplest form and for people with high blood pressure it has always been assumed that stimulus is the last thing an already overworked heart would need.However despite lots of scare stories , studies carried out mainly in America have shown that people who consume over 4 cups of coffee per day are no more likely to suffer adverse effects than people who consume less than 4 cups per day.So for people with high blood pressure although they may well be near retirement there is no need to retire the coffee mug just yet.
Obviously we can see that high blood presure and cardiovascular disease are inextricably linked.They are conditions known to 21st century man as a consequence of our lifestyles in the more affluent countries. Sedentary lifestyles,poor eating habits,smoking and the fact that more people than ever live longer lives all contribute to the high occurrence of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in modern society.However , we can change our diets. We can stop smoking and we can get more exercise.Doing all these things will delay the onset of problems for already fit people and alleviate symptoms for people who already have problems.
So cut out the fried foods , quit the fags and take the dog for brisk walks then you can come home to a nice cup of coffee!!
There have been several studies looking at the effects of caffeine intake on cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.Caffeine is a stimulant in its most simplest form and for people with high blood pressure it has always been assumed that stimulus is the last thing an already overworked heart would need.However despite lots of scare stories , studies carried out mainly in America have shown that people who consume over 4 cups of coffee per day are no more likely to suffer adverse effects than people who consume less than 4 cups per day.So for people with high blood pressure although they may well be near retirement there is no need to retire the coffee mug just yet.
Obviously we can see that high blood presure and cardiovascular disease are inextricably linked.They are conditions known to 21st century man as a consequence of our lifestyles in the more affluent countries. Sedentary lifestyles,poor eating habits,smoking and the fact that more people than ever live longer lives all contribute to the high occurrence of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in modern society.However , we can change our diets. We can stop smoking and we can get more exercise.Doing all these things will delay the onset of problems for already fit people and alleviate symptoms for people who already have problems.
So cut out the fried foods , quit the fags and take the dog for brisk walks then you can come home to a nice cup of coffee!!
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