The effect of coffee on blood vessels. Does coffee really dilate blood vessels?

Often people start their day with a cup of delicious aromatic coffee, during the day they drink more than one cup of this drink and consider coffee to be completely harmless. Is it really?

Coffee is a plant product. The coffee we are used to is dried, roasted and ground coffee beans. This drink can affect the body both positively and negatively.

Coffee helps a lot of people to cheer up and tune in to work. But for some, after a cup of coffee, the head begins to spin and hurt, sometimes avid coffee lovers begin to notice that after drinking coffee, their head is a little dizzy.

Why do these symptoms occur? How does coffee affect the human body? How dangerous is it and what to do if such symptoms appear? Many begin to look for answers to such questions and discover the pros and cons of caffeine!

The effect of caffeine on the body

Why after drinking a cup of coffee do we feel a surge of strength, vivacity, energy? Coffee is rich in such a substance as caffeine, which has a tonic effect on the human body. You can even say that caffeine is in some way a drug, because it stimulates the body. However, the increase in vitality after caffeine intake is short-lived and often carries a hidden threat.

How caffeine affects the human body:

There is clarity in my head.
There is a feeling of hunger.
I want to breathe deeply.
You need somewhere to put the surging energy.

caffeine and the brain

All these manifestations are caused by stimulation of receptors in the brain with caffeine, the result is that the commands coming from the brain are transformed. Caffeine is very similar in structure to adenosine.. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter, that is, a substance that is synthesized by brain cells. It is produced throughout the day, its amount varies throughout the day. This substance slows down the activity of neurons, thereby signaling to the brain that it is time to rest, sleep.

Adenosine also affects the blood vessels of the brain. By joining the receptors, it expands the vessels of the brain. Since all vital functions slow down during sleep, breathing becomes shallow, heartbeats become more rare. This action of adenosine allows neurons to be more efficiently supplied with oxygen and other nutrients during sleep.

At a high concentration of caffeine, adenosine is replaced and connects to receptors, it disrupts the transmission of a nerve impulse that notifies the body that it is time to sleep, and constricts the vessels of the brain. If the spasm of the blood vessels is strong, this is manifested in the fact that the head is spinning and aching.

After caffeine has stimulated the activity of the brain, its other departments are also connected. The pituitary gland reacts in its own way to such activity and begins to release a number of hormones into the bloodstream that stimulate other glands to secrete. These hormones leave the brain and travel to the adrenal glands, where adrenaline is synthesized and released into the blood vessels, which is why most of the symptoms attributed to caffeine occur:

dilated pupils;
frequent breathing;
rapid pulse;
expansion of the main vessels supplying blood to vital organs (heart, brain), while the vessels of the skin, gastrointestinal tract are significantly narrowed. This phenomenon is called redistribution of blood and occurs in emergency situations.

Caffeine and the cardiovascular system

Vasoconstriction under the influence of caffeine and increased heart rate can cause pain in the heart, shortness of breath, while the head begins to spin, nausea joins, loss of consciousness is possible. This condition is dangerous for people with heart problems. In this case, the increase in pressure against the background of drinking coffee can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

Caffeine and the gastrointestinal tract

In this situation, drinking coffee has a positive effect, thereby promoting the digestion of food. To do this, the drink should be drunk after a meal. However, it is this action that leads to the development of gastritis, reflux disease, and the formation of a stomach ulcer. Other products containing caffeine are not recommended for patients with the above diseases.

Impact on the reproductive system

Scientists continue to debate the effect of caffeine on potency. There are several theories. But most scientists agree that potency caffeine does more harm than good, and the effects of caffeine intake appear over time.

For a woman's reproductive function, drinking coffee does not bring anything good. The eggs are susceptible to all harmful substances that enter the body of a woman.

Pregnant women should be especially careful with coffee, as its regular intake increases the risk of preterm labor. Even with a normal pregnancy, a cup of coffee increases blood pressure, tones the uterus, which is dangerous for both the expectant mother and the fetus.

Caffeine is used in medicine as a heart stimulant. Scientists at Harvard University conducted a study, the results of which stated that daily consumption of a cup of coffee reduces the risk of developing cancer by 2 times. However, there are opponents of such a theory.

What is caffeine?

It is a white or slightly yellowish powder with a very bitter taste. Caffeine is a narcotic substance and, like any other drug, causes addiction. If a coffee lover tries to stop drinking coffee or at least reduce the number of cups he drinks per day, he will notice that he is dizzy and has a headache, it is difficult for him to concentrate, there is no interest in the world around him, he wants to sleep, his behavior will be aggressive. This is caused by processes occurring in the human brain.

However, after a few days, the brain will begin to adapt to new realities, and the head will stop spinning and hurting. Over time, other organs and tissues will begin to adapt to a new way of life, optimism and cheerfulness will return, diseases of the cardiovascular system and digestive tract will become less disturbing.

Coffee is not a harmful product, but it should be consumed with caution.

The magic of coffee has been studied for many years, popular and unremarkable at first glance, the drink is fraught with many secrets, and one of them worries many patients, coffee expands or narrows blood vessels, and why it does not work for everyone and not always. It's time to reveal all the magical effect of the fragrant potion, so loved by many.

Classification

In fact, coffee differs according to many criteria, and it is possible to find out exactly what effect the output will have only if all factors, even the smallest ones, are taken into account.

So, what are the criteria for dividing the product:

roast degree;
place of growth;
grade;
the amount of water in relation to the main part;
dose;
type of product(grains, sublimated granules, etc.).

It should be taken into account that during the roasting of coffee beans, substances are formed that cannot be synthesized so far. Therefore, until now, a product that even remotely resembled the properties of the product has not been invented.

It is impossible to say for sure whether coffee constricts blood vessels or dilates if we are talking about a ground product, or an instant one, since “foreign substances” such as chicory, preservatives, dyes, and so on can be added to such ready-made products. .

But what will happen if we consider grains ground on our own, from which a wonderful viscous drink is obtained, which gives vigor.

Source of caffeine

If we discard all doubts about artificial additives, then in its pure form the drink itself consists of more than three hundred elements, but the main one is caffeine, it is he who is credited with the development of addiction, vigor, increased heart rate, and an increase in blood pressure.

In some cases, this can be considered true, however, the mechanism of action of coffee on the body as a whole can manifest itself in different ways.

The pulse rises - what is happening

Substances increase the heart rate, and this effect was manifested in everyone who has ever tried a real, brewed drink. This happens not because coffee constricts or dilates blood vessels, but for a completely different reason.

The components directly affect the cells of the heart muscle, while causing them to contract somewhat faster than usual. The rapid contraction of cardiomyocytes is the increase in heart rate, which means an increase in the number of beats per minute. Systole and diastole remain uniform, and there will be no other significant changes on the ECG.

When the head does not hurt, but it really interferes

A similar feeling is familiar to people with a hangover syndrome, as well as to those who have experienced migraine attacks, when a headache heats the brain to the limit. Whoever drank a strong drink in this or that situation knows that after a mug of freshly brewed head quickly enough comes in order.

Why is this happening?

The fact is that caffeine dilates the vessels responsible for the outflow of blood from the head.
Conversely, the vessels that are responsible for the inflow narrows.

By stimulating the outflow of blood in the cerebral veins, the head passes quickly, since there is no excess fluid in the cerebral cavity. The same effect can be achieved by simply swallowing a caffeine pill, but this is acceptable if you do not have concomitant pathologies, when the alkaloid is contraindicated.

Note! If the patient has a history of intolerance to caffeine, or the presence of an allergic reaction, then drinking coffee is prohibited, without any assumptions.

Or maybe it was the other way around?

Without a doubt, everything is clear with cerebral venous vessels, and these are not just guesses of scientists, but repeatedly confirmed experimental data that have been carried out for a long time using caffeine tablets, as well as with liquid drinks of good quality.

Contrary to popular belief, an invigorating drink acts differently on certain parts of the body, and blood vessels are no exception, so we can say that coffee constricts blood vessels. Some may consider this a paradoxical misunderstanding, but the fact remains.

Peripheral vessels, including venous ones, narrow, the inflow and outflow of blood changes in contrast to normal values. Of course, such a phenomenon is not so significant, and in most cases such vasoconstriction does not bring a person any discomfort, it is hardly possible to see a deathly pale person after one cup.

Need more coffee

Due to the action on the vessels, significant changes can be observed with an overdose of caffeine, in particular, this applies specifically to peripheral vessels, which is why the limbs change color to bluish or whitish.

For more information about the symptoms of a coffee overdose, see the video in this article.

Note! Coffee is a multifaceted drink that affects many systems, so you need to drink it very carefully, without overdoing it.

The scent that separates the day from the night

Fragrant coffee is like nothing else, but does it have an effect on the body? After all, anyone can recognize its smell, especially if the drink is brewed by hand.

The aroma of coffee, as such, does not affect the blood vessels in any way, it does not narrow or expand them, however, the invigorating effect in the morning is achieved precisely because of the aroma, and not any other properties.

Note! Even without trying coffee, you can experience a surge of joy and vigor, but in order for the action of the active ingredients to spread directly to the vessels, you need to take at least a sip of the aromatic drink.

Hypertension and coffee addiction

If you already understood that the vessels narrow or expand from coffee, depending on where the vessel itself is localized, then with hypertension and hypertension, not everything is so simple, but all because research in this area continues to this day.

Does coffee increase blood pressure, because blood vessels should narrow immediately after drinking a mug.

Recent studies show that blood pressure values do indeed become higher, however, this only applies to patients with hypotension.
The controversy around hypertension remains open, so some cardiologists allow the consumption of coffee, and some strictly forbid it.

Note! Despite the fact that questions in the case of compensated and decompensated hypertension remain open, there are many other contraindications for drinking coffee, so if a doctor recommends that you stop consuming caffeine, then his opinion will be a priority.

Caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks

It is important to understand that the main effect on the vessels is mainly caffeine, and not other components. At the same time, the alkaloid is also present in other drinks that are used in everyday life.

Therefore, it is necessary to be aware that the substance contained in other drinks has the same effect on the body. Consider caffeinated drinks, and the amount of active substance in them.

Note! It is caffeine that constricts or expands blood vessels, no matter what type of drink you choose!

It is important to understand that the values indicated in the table are quite relative, since everything depends on the active substance.

Let's take a closer look:

1 bag of black tea can be brewed in a standard mug and will have a caffeine content of 0.04 - 0.07.
The same 1 tea bag can be used to brew a thermos designed for two mugs, however, the alkaloid concentration will remain the same, 0.04 - 0.07. Thus, drinking the whole thermos, a person consumes the same dose of the active substance as in the first case.

Very often this misconception concerns coffee, patients refer to the fact that they drink a “weak” drink. For coffee, there are no concepts of “strong” or “weak”, for it there are concepts of dose. The concentration of caffeine in a mug of espresso (60-70 ml) and a mug of latte (200-250 ml in the photo) are exactly the same.

This is interesting! Mate tea is still not reliably classified as a caffeinated drink, referring to the fact that the substance contained in such an invigorating mate is not caffeine, but its analogue (mateine). At the same time, some scientists consider mateine and caffeine as synonymous concepts, however, the exact meanings could not be found.

When should you drink coffee?

Disputes about the dangers and benefits of drinks containing caffeine have been going on for a long time, but so far leading scientists have not come to the only correct opinion.

It has been proven that the drink brings pronounced benefits in the following situations:

hypotension;
slow heart rate;
manifestation of edema of the lower extremities;
to eliminate fatigue after a grueling workout;
severe headache of a compressive nature;
pain during menstruation in girls;
drowsiness and loss of energy.

Attention! Before using the properties of coffee to speed up the heart rate or increase blood pressure, you need to consult a doctor.

When it's better to be away from a drink

It is impossible to determine the coffee of a medicine, but it is also unacceptable to underestimate the nature of its effect on blood vessels and the heart.

The use of an invigorating and fragrant drink should be abandoned to the following groups of people:

children under the age of 14;
lactating mothers and women during pregnancy;
patients with hypertension;
with severe tachycardia;
with violations of the kidneys;
pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
age over 75;
after serious head injury;
patients with severe disorders of the endocrine system;
postoperative period;
mental pathologies.

The effect of coffee on the vessels of brain tissue can be not only positive, but also negative. If there are any limiting factors, the composition should be abandoned. Excessive consumption of caffeine can cause irreparable harm to human health.

Fact! People who regularly consume coffee should carefully consider its quality. The fact is that a low-grade product is the main enemy of the circulatory system!

Everything is under tight control

Is it possible to control everything, and how to do it.

If the effect of caffeine on blood vessels is really important for the patient, then it can be completely excluded, replacing it with chicory, or any herbal tea. The alkaloid content will be zero, and you can not think about whether coffee dilates blood vessels or something else.
If, nevertheless, we are talking about caffeinated drinks, then laboratory data will be required to determine the exact dose, but if this is not possible, then you can completely use the table above, only in this case you will have to study all the nuances of making tea, including packaged options.
Despite the fact that all varieties are different, it is necessary to rely only on personal preference, since the manufacturer does not provide data on the concentration of alkaloid in each of the varieties.

Without exception, all drinks have different preparation rules, if you want to know exactly how much caffeine you are using, then the preparation instructions must be followed exactly to the smallest detail.

Coffee mania in full swing

If coffee has been a hobby for a long time, then it is necessary to control its consumption. In addition to vascular pathologies caused, just by the consumption of caffeine in unreasonable amounts, CNS disorders can occur, psychosis can form, insomnia can appear, and even heart rhythm disturbances.

Tea and coffee, although they are familiar drinks for every person, are still dangerous.

Note! Any kind of coffee contains caffeine and other active substances, so they will affect the body in the same way, even if the price exceeds several million, it will still affect the vessels, narrowing or expanding them.

Is it possible to do without caffeine?

An ordinary person very often consumes drinks that contain such an active substance as caffeine, this explains the fact that not only coffee dilates or constricts blood vessels, but other drinks too.

It is important not only to understand that coffee in excessive amounts can be very harmful, but also that any drinks in a certain dose can have a similar effect. In any case, you should not abuse caffeine, especially in cases where there are already problems with blood vessels.

Classification

In fact, coffee differs according to many criteria, and it is possible to find out exactly what effect the output will have only if all factors, even the smallest ones, are taken into account.

So, what are the criteria for dividing the product:

roast degree;
place of growth;
grade;
the amount of water in relation to the main part;
dose;
type of product(grains, sublimated granules, etc.).

But what will happen if we consider grains ground on our own, from which a wonderful viscous drink is obtained, which gives vigor.