How much coffee is safe for the heart? Doctors explore the benefits and risks of caffeine
Coffee has been associated with key cardiovascular benefits over the years. But how much is too much? It has remained unclear just how many cups of coffee a person can drink on a daily basis without overdoing it.
According to a scientific statement published in Circulation, adults can safely consume up to five cups of caffeinated coffee—good for approximately 400 mg of caffeine—each day. In fact, drinking that much coffee is linked to multiple benefits, including a lower risk of heart failure, heart disease and even stroke.
Higher daily doses of caffeine, however, may increase a person’s risk of high blood pressure or lead to heart rhythm issues. Researchers specifically pointed to energy drinks and their high caffeine levels as a potential health hazard.
The new scientific statement was prepared by a volunteer writing group with support from the American Heart Association (AHA). Co-authors included specialists from the fields of cardiology, nutrition, epidemiology and public health. The scientific statement does not include specific treatment recommendations, but it will help guide future recommendations developed by the AHA and other medical societies.
“Although research suggests that caffeine consumption may be associated with certain cardiovascular benefits for some people, it’s important to remember that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy for safe caffeine consumption,” wrote electrophysiologist Gregory M. Marcus, MD, chair of the statement’s writing group and a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. “People can respond very differently to caffeine based on various factors, such as age, medications, underlying health conditions, genetics and how quickly their bodies metabolize it. What may be a reasonable amount for one person could cause unwanted effects in another, such as heart palpitations, anxiety or sleep disruption. That's why it’s important to pay attention to how your body responds to caffeine and talk with your healthcare team about what is right for you.”
Click here to read the full scientific statement in Circulation. Read about another recent analysis on this topic here.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.