How long does caffeine affect your blood pressure

It's a natural question, since caffeine can increase your heart rate. We reached out to a cardiologist for answers.

If you can't get out the door in the morning without a cup of dark roast, you're not alone. According to the National Coffee Association's spring 2022 trend report, Americans drink about two cups of coffee each, daily—that's 517 million cups of coffee total per day. But is your caffeine intake impacting your blood pressure? It's a natural question, considering the fact that caffeine can make our tickers go pitter-patter or cause a racing heart rate. Ahead, a cardiologist explains whether your morning cup of coffee can impact your blood pressure.

How Coffee Affects Blood Pressure Readings

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers, each of which measures the pressure against your arteries as your blood is moving through them; systolic blood pressure is the reading when your heart beats, and diastolic blood pressure is the reading between beats. According to the CDC, a normal blood pressure reading falls under a systolic reading of 120 and a diastolic reading of 80.

Coffee and other caffeinated beverages cause the muscles of the arterial walls to tighten and the blood vessels' diameter to decrease—a process called vasoconstriction—which raises blood pressure, notes cardiologist Dr. Seamus Whelton of Johns Hopkins Medicine. But studies have shown that blood pressure spikes from coffee last only a few hours. Habitual coffee drinkers likely develop a tolerance. In fact, one study showed that after two weeks of drinking coffee, the blood pressure increase had vanished. However, says Dr. Whelton, if you are keeping a close watch on your blood pressure, you should refrain from caffeine for at least half an hour before taking your readings.

Coffee and Hypertension

Consistently elevated high blood pressure, called hypertension, stems from a variety of factors, including diseases such as diabetes and lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, and smoking. It can also contribute to your risk of heart attack, stroke, and dementia. But caffeine doesn't appear to worsen the condition: In 2017, Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy published a report on studies that associated coffee with hypertension and cardiovascular disease, noting that "recent, well controlled studies have demonstrated either a neutral or beneficial effect of moderate coffee consumption (three to four cups/day) on blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or diabetes mellitus." (If you are managing hypertension, discuss your caffeine intake with your doctor.)

Healthy Coffee Consumption

Coffee has established health benefits—"consuming coffee in moderation has been associated with a reduced risk of heart failure, type II diabetes, and coronary heart disease," says Dr. Whelton—but doctors recommend keeping your intake to two or three cups per day (and skipping the sweetener, cream, syrups, and other add-ins that can spike your sugar intake and add extra calories). And don't reach for your extra-large mug: "It is important to pay attention to not only the number of cups of coffee you drink per day, but also the portion in each serving," explains Dr. Whelton. "Some popular coffee shops have serving sizes with 24 or more ounces of coffee, which is roughly equivalent to four cups of coffee in a single serving."

How long does caffeine affect your blood pressure

Does coffee raise blood pressure?

As a stimulant, coffee makes people more alert and awake. Over 154 million adults, or 75% of the US population, are reported to consume some form of it every day. Due to its popularity, there needs to be a better understanding of how it can impact your health. Experts agree that in moderation coffee is not unhealthy, but how does it affect your blood pressure?  

How much caffeine can you drink a day?

The FDA recommends that adults don’t drink more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, the average cup of coffee contains 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine whereas a can of caffeinated soft drink contains 30-40 milligrams. According to a review of 34 studies, caffeine may raise your blood pressure, especially if you are not a regular coffee drinker. The review found that in general, drinking anywhere between 200-300 milligrams of caffeine can raise your systolic blood pressure by 8 mm Hg while boosting your diastolic blood pressure by 6 mm Hg. The caffeine, however, will usually only raise blood pressure levels for around 3 hours.

Are there any long-term effects? 

Since coffee is a beverage that people drink on a daily basis and it does raise your blood pressure in the short term, the question of if there are any long-term effects of drinking coffee is a legitimate concern. The results are conflicting. Some evidence suggests that drinking coffee regularly does not have a long-term impact on your blood pressure, nor does it appear to increase your risk of cardiovascular health problems.

Other evidence suggests negative reactions to caffeine like caffeine withdrawal, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, or jitteriness. If you’re considering drinking coffee every day, it’s important to do so in moderation, and figure out what works the best for you, your body and your lifestyle. One way to consume coffee in a healthy way is to never drink it on an empty stomach, before having your morning coffee, you should have at least a small meal. In case of gastrointestinal distress, an option is to add collagen protein into your coffee. 

Staying on top of your health

Monitoring your blood pressure is important to ensure that your heart is healthy, whether you regularly drink coffee or not. With QardioArm,  you can monitor your blood pressure wherever and whenever. It is completely wireless and connects to a state-of-the-art app. QardioArm is ideal for anyone looking for an efficient, practical way to monitor their blood pressure. 

Contributed by Daniel Spielberger 

Last updated: October 26, 2021

How long does a blood pressure spike from caffeine last?

How long does caffeine raise blood pressure for? As soon as 30 minutes after drinking coffee, the caffeine in it may raise your systolic blood pressure (the top number) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by up to 15 points. This effect usually lasts for up to 4 hours.

Does caffeine temporarily raise blood pressure?

Caffeine may cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure, even if you don't have high blood pressure. It's unclear what causes this spike in blood pressure.

What time of day is BP highest?

Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening. Blood pressure is usually lower at night while sleeping.

Is it OK to drink caffeine with high blood pressure?

As a result, caffeine doesn't have a long-term effect on their blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, ask your health care professional whether you should limit or stop drinking caffeinated beverages. The Food and Drug Administration says 400 milligrams a day of caffeine is generally safe for most people.