Coffee lovers with heart disease have no
increase in death rate...according to recent
study.
A recent study reported in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that
women who enjoy a few cups of coffee a day generally live
as long as those who do not drink coffee.
The prevailing hypothesis has been that coffee raises
blood pressure and may increase the load on the cardiovascular
system. So this report appears to shed some conflicting
evidence on the prevailing thinking, which may be more mythical
that otherwise thought. Other studies show similar
effects, while a few others tout coffee's protective
effects.
In the new study, which followed nearly 12,000
U.S. nurses with a history of heart
disease or stroke, those who regularly drank caffeinated coffee
were no more likely to die than non-coffee-drinkers during the
study period - which for some was more than 20
years.
Researchers found no link between a woman's coffee
intake and her risk of death from heart attack, stroke or any
other cause. And that was true even of women who downed four or
more cups per day.
Though the study group is large, and over a long period, the
results may not be generalizable due to the narrow population.
Nor can the study discount coffee as a possible cause of
cardiovascular problems, at least in some people.
The study does show that there would be neither a
benefit or any harm to having coffee after recovering from a
heart attack.
However, recent studies
have suggested the importance of genetics in
determining who might be at risk as metabolizing coffee seems
to have a influence in reaction to coffee.
Even with factors like age, weight, high blood
pressure and diabetes accounted for, there was
still no association between coffee consumption and risk
of death.
So, it would appear that people with heart disease who
already drink coffee do not have to give it up.
But it is still advised to check with your
doctor, particularly if you have uncontrolled high blood
pressure or other conditions that could be aggravated by
caffeine -- like sleep problems or anxiety.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/kUXi5R
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online
May 11,
2011.
Reuters Health
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