Can Heart Disease Patients Drink Coffee? According To The Study: As Long As…

Illustration of people with heart disease can they drink coffee (iStockphoto)

YOGYAKARTA – The popularity of coffee is increasing, research on the benefits of coffee on health is also being carried out. Including the effects of caffeinated drinks prepared from the fruit of the Rubiaceae family plant if taken daily by people with or without heart disease.

Coffee can speed up the heart rate, which is why some people worry about drinking it. But in research data presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session, daily coffee intake should be included as part of a healthy diet for people with or without heart disease.

Peter M. Kistler, MD., professor and head of arrhythmia research at Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart Institute in Melbourne, Australia, found that drinking coffee had a neutral effect. This means that it is not harmful to heart health. Based on an analysis of a large-scale database, the study involved more than half a million people and was conducted over ten years.

The researchers looked at different levels of coffee consumption. Ranging from one cup to more than six cups a day is associated with heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke. From the answers to the questionnaire, researchers found no significant effect on cardiovascular risk after controlling for exercise, alcohol, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Illustration of heart disease sufferers can drink coffee (Unsplash/Maria)

The first study involving 382,535 participants without heart disease conducted over 10 years, drinking coffee was found to be beneficial for their heart health. In general, participants drank 2-3 cups a day. Participants were on average 57 years old and half were women. Those who drink coffee every day have a 10-15 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm problems, or death for any reason.

The second study involved 34,279 people who had some form of cardiovascular disease. Intake of two to three cups of coffee a day was associated with a lower chance of death compared to not drinking coffee. A total of 24,111 people with arrhythmia disorders, drinking coffee is not the cause of death. In fact, drinking one cup of coffee a day was almost 20 percent less likely to die than non-coffee drinkers.

Kistler notes that people with heart disease are safe to drink coffee regularly as long as it is part of a healthy diet. "There are a variety of mechanisms by which coffee can reduce mortality and have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease."

People often equate coffee with caffeine. Whereas in coffee beans have more than 100 biologically active compounds. These substances can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, increase metabolism, inhibit fat absorption in the gut, and block receptors known to be involved with abnormal heart rhythms.

So what types of coffee are safe for people with heart disease? Kistler explains that each type of coffee has its share of benefits previously stated. An important limitation to note is that this study was conducted on predominantly white participants. To determine whether populations of other races would benefit equally, a wider study is needed. In addition, this study did not include other coffee ingredients such as cream, milk, and sugar. That is, if you add these ingredients, try to consult your personal doctor.