From the Guidelines
Caffeine is not associated with a higher risk of hypertension in the general population, and moderate consumption is generally considered safe. According to the 2024 ESC guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension 1, coffee intake is not associated with a higher risk of hypertension, and higher coffee consumption may even be associated with a lower risk for incident hypertension.
When considering the potential effects of caffeine on blood pressure, it's essential to differentiate between acute and long-term effects. Acute caffeine consumption can cause blood vessels to constrict, potentially raising blood pressure by 3-15 mmHg for several hours after consumption. However, regular caffeine consumers often develop tolerance to these effects.
For healthy individuals, moderate caffeine consumption (up to 400mg daily, equivalent to about 4 cups of coffee) is generally considered safe. The 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults recommends generally limiting caffeine intake to <300 mg/d and avoiding use in patients with uncontrolled hypertension 1.
People with hypertension, heart conditions, or anxiety disorders should be more cautious and may need to limit their intake to lower amounts or avoid caffeine altogether. If you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular concerns, it's advisable to monitor your blood pressure after caffeine consumption to understand your individual response. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine's effects than others due to genetic factors affecting how quickly they metabolize it. If you notice significant blood pressure increases after consuming caffeine, consider reducing your intake or discussing this with your healthcare provider.
Key points to consider:
- Moderate caffeine consumption is generally considered safe for healthy individuals
- Caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure, but regular consumers often develop tolerance
- People with hypertension, heart conditions, or anxiety disorders should be cautious with caffeine intake
- Monitor blood pressure after caffeine consumption if you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular concerns
- Genetic factors can affect individual sensitivity to caffeine's effects.
From the FDA Drug Label
Although no cases of cardiac toxicity were reported in the placebo-controlled trial, caffeine has been shown to increase heart rate, left ventricular output, and stroke volume in published studies. Cardiovascular effects (i.e., tachycardia, increased left ventricular output, and increased stroke volume)
Caffeine may increase blood pressure due to its effects on the cardiovascular system, including increased heart rate, left ventricular output, and stroke volume. However, the FDA drug label does not provide direct information on whether caffeine increases blood pressure to dangerous levels, potentially causing hypertension 2.
From the Research
Caffeine's Effect on Blood Pressure
- Caffeine may cause a mild increase in blood pressure, particularly in non-habitual coffee drinkers 3, 4
- However, habitual coffee consumption in moderate to high dosages (3-5 cups/day) has been found to have a neutral or even beneficial impact on blood pressure values and the new onset of hypertension 3, 5, 6, 7
Risk of Hypertension
- Moderate and habitual coffee consumption does not appear to increase the risk of uncontrolled blood pressure and may even reduce the risk of death from any cause 5, 6
- Occasional coffee consumption, on the other hand, has been found to have hypertensinogenic effects 6
- The consumption of coffee is compatible with a correct and balanced lifestyle and should not be discouraged in subjects with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases 3
Cardiovascular Health
- Habitual moderate coffee intake has been found to be associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality 3, 5, 4, 7
- The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols and other substances in coffee may counteract the potential negative effects of caffeine on blood pressure and cardiovascular health 6, 7