For those of you who gulp down coffee like it’s oxygen, you should resist the tempting third and fourth cup, as a recent study warns.
Researchers argue that excessive caffeine consumption regularly can lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate in both healthy and unhealthy individuals.
The study focused on the effects of coffee, tea, carbonated soft drinks, and popular energy drinks on 92 adults aged 18-45, who underwent a three-minute step test and had their heart rates measured at 1 minute and 5 minutes after completing the test.
The results showed that those who consumed 400 milligrams of caffeine daily experienced increased blood pressure and heart rate. The 400 milligrams correspond to four cups of coffee, 10 cans of soda, or two energy drinks. This is also the intake reported by 20% of the participants.
The lead researcher of the study states that “due to caffeine’s effects on the autonomic nervous system, regular consumption could put otherwise healthy individuals at risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular events.”