Can people with heart problems drink coffee regularly?
Disease description:
My girlfriend is 26 years old, and her heart has never been particularly healthy. Due to work requirements, she regularly consumes coffee. I would like to ask, can someone with a heart condition drink coffee frequently?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Tian Hongbo
People with heart problems are generally not advised to drink coffee frequently.
Caffeine in coffee has a stimulating effect on the sympathetic nervous system, which may lead to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and consequently increased myocardial oxygen consumption. This can place additional strain on the heart and be detrimental to heart health. Particularly for individuals with heart conditions such as arrhythmia, hypertension, or coronary heart disease, excessive coffee consumption may worsen symptoms or even trigger cardiac events. Patients with existing heart problems who consume excessive caffeine may experience adverse symptoms such as palpitations, tachycardia, and heart fluttering, and could potentially develop complications like arrhythmia or heart failure.
In general, a daily caffeine intake of no more than approximately 1 to 2 cups of standard coffee is considered relatively safe; however, individual intake should be adjusted according to personal health conditions. If necessary, it is recommended to choose low-caffeine or caffeine-free alternatives, and to avoid drinking coffee in the evening in order to reduce its impact on sleep and heart health. For the sake of cardiovascular health, individuals with heart conditions should try to avoid frequent coffee consumption, opt for bland and easily digestible meals, and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.
