A trip to Starbucks on the way to work is a morning ritual for some. The opportunity to sip on a hot cappuccino or latte is a treat that many look forward to before facing a challenging day at work. Some people follow up their morning specialty coffee drink with a few more cups at the office and the caffeine gradually adds up. This may not be a problem for some people, but what if you have hypertension? How does all that coffee affect blood pressure?

Does Coffee Raise Blood Pressure?

The caffeine in coffee acts as a mild stimulant which can speed up the heart rate. Some people even experience palpitations and irregularities in heart rhythm from too much caffeine. This is why people who have heart disease are advised to avoid coffee entirely or switch to decaf. It’s the mild stimulant properties of coffee that cause people to “perk up” and become nervous and hyper when they drink one too many cups of coffee.

The caffeine in coffee also affects blood vessels causing them to constrict which can raise blood pressure for short periods of time. When coffee elevates the blood pressure the effect is usually small and short-lived in most people. People who have hypertension may experience more of an elevation depending upon how severe their hypertension is and whether it’s being treated with medications.

Another way caffeine in coffee affects blood pressure is by stimulating release of stress hormones such as cortisol that increase blood pressure. Cortisol levels can remain high for up to twelve hours after drinking a cup of coffee which could make blood pressures more difficult to control in some people.

Does Coffee Affect the Risk of Developing High Blood Pressure?

Apparently not. Several studies have shown that people who drink four or more cups of coffee per day may actually have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than people who drink none. While this might seem strange since caffeine is a stimulant, it’s important to remember that coffee also contains polyphenols which can have a positive impact on heart and blood vessel health. The polyphenols may counteract some of the negative effects of caffeine in regular coffee drinkers.

Does Coffee Raise Blood Pressure? The Bottom Line?

The caffeine in coffee may cause a small, temporary rise in blood pressure, particularly in people who have hypertension, but the effect doesn’t appear to be dramatic or sustained. One way to see how coffee affects your own blood pressure is to check a blood pressure reading after drinking it and every thirty minutes for an hour or two. If there’s a significant elevation, switch to decaf.