Coffee and health: new study contradicts old beliefs on coffee and heart health
Posted in the American Heart Journal, a new Swedish study could not find a link between coffee consumption and heart failure, according to Red Orbit news. This contradicts previous assertions that drinking too much coffee could possibly contribute to heart failure. So, now what? Does coffee have an adverse affect on heart health?
Past studies on coffee and heart failure
In 2001 Swedish researchers wanted to test the relationship between drinking coffee and heart failure. Drinking coffee does after all raise your heart rate for a couple hours, or at least a little while, it makes you feel alert and energized, and sometimes a little happier, or a little more stressed out. Actually, it both opens pathways for air and blood circulation, which is why coffee is recommended as a natural remedy for asthma sufferers. But, health benefits and side effects aside — is coffee dangerous?
The previous study examined the coffee drinking habits of 7,500 men. They found that those who regularly drank more than five cups of coffee a day had a higher risk of contracting heart disease, prompting the American Heart Association to put out a statement that coffee drinking could potentially increase the risk of heart failure, although further research was needed.
Recent findings on coffee and heart health
Thus the more recent study. Swedish researchers looked at the coffee drinking and heart health of 37,315 men, of which only 784 ended up with heart failure. The researchers concluded that there was no conclusion. They believe there probably is not a relationship between coffee and heart failure, or at least they could not say there was.
What exactly is heart failure, and what could coffee have to do with it?
Heart failure is a chronic condition that starts when heart tissue becomes damaged. It leads to a poorer state of overall health as the heart can no longer efficiently pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, leading to fatigue and trouble breathing during exercise. According to the American Heart Association, heart failure is caused by pre-existing conditions that can affect the heart, such as high blood pressure, a previous heart attack, congenital heart disease, and even diabetes.
Where does coffee fit into all of this? According to the more recent study, it doesn’t fit at all, although who knows what the next study will conclude. In the meantime, a healthy fruit, vegetable, omega fatty acid, and whole grain rich diet, exercise, and a low-stress life will lead to heart health, and if coffee makes you feel good, it seems to be alright to drink, at least for now.