Caffeine and Oxygen

Small doses of caffeine--even as little as that in one cup of coffee--can cause temporary stiffening of the blood vessel walls.

Researchers led by Dr. Charalambos Vlachopoulos of Athens Medical School in Greece looked at the effect of caffeine in people with mild hypertension, or high blood pressure, and in individuals with normal blood pressure.

The researchers found that people with mild hypertension who took a pill that contained 250 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, equivalent to the amount contained in 2 to 3 cups of coffee, experienced a temporary increase in blood pressure and in the stiffness of the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.

Vlachopoulos and his team measured arterial stiffness by looking at pulse velocity in the aorta.

Arteries need to be supple enough to expand when muscles--including the heart--demand more oxygen, and a loss of elasticity spells trouble for the body. Arterial stiffening places an extra load on the heart, and is a primary cause of hypertension.

In the first study, Vlachopoulos and his team gave 10 mildly hypertensive people a high-dose caffeine pill and placebo. Caffeine increased systolic pressure by 11.4 mm Hg relative to placebo.

In another study, the caffeine equivalent of one cup of coffee also increased arterial stiffness in 10 non-hypertensive patients, and raised their systolic blood pressure by 3 mm Hg and their diastolic reading by 6.5 mm Hg.

Pulse velocity eventually returned to its normal levels, Vlachopoulos noted, but remained higher than average even three hours after patients took the caffeine pills.

Vlachopoulos explained that the increased arterial stiffness that comes with caffeine might worsen hypertension in people who already have high blood pressure, and may also increase the risk that these individuals have of suffering a serious cardiovascular event such as heart attack or stroke. The increased stiffness also reduces the amount of oxygen that is supplied to the heart, he noted.

Both studies used only a small number of patients, the Greek researcher noted, and further research is needed before doctors can make specific recommendations about who should avoid caffeine and who should simply reduce the amount they consume.

In the meantime, however, Vlachopoulos said that certain patients, such as those whose arteries are already stiff, may wish to start reducing caffeine consumption now.

From Mike:
This technique may become a major marker for artery health for years to come.

I remember reading years ago that people researching chelation (removing arterial plaque with a IV administered substance called EDTA) reported that autopsies done on teen age and 20s aged Vietnam casualties discovered that arteriosclerosis was already developing in those young bodies. I believe it is safe to assume that most everyone raised on or eating with a Standard American Diet (SAD) of high starches, sugars, refined carbohydrates and red meat has already developed a significant stiffening of the arterial walls.

Sudden infant death syndrome -- cot death or SIDS as it is also known -- was twice as likely to occur among babies whose mothers drank a lot of coffee, tea, or cola every day throughout pregnancy, the research found.

The researchers interviewed the parents of 80 per cent of cot death cases registered with the nationwide New Zealand Cot Death Study and a similar percentage of parents with surviving infants. The results showed that mothers whose babies had died suddenly were twice as likely to be heavy drinkers of coffee, cola, and tea throughout pregnancy as were mothers whose babies were still alive.

These results held true even after taking into account other risk factors, such as young age at motherhood, smoking, and bottle feeding.

Previous research has shown that coffee can harm a developing fetus, especially in the last trimester when the mother's ability to rid her system of caffeine is severely reduced. Caffeine intake has also been associated with low birth weight, miscarriage, and withdrawal symptoms in the baby, including breathing difficulties.

The most likely explanation for the link between coffee and cot death, say the authors, is its stimulant effect on the baby's respiratory system. When this effect is withdrawn after birth, the baby's respiratory drive may then be inadequate to withstand infection or other stressors.

"The importance of this finding," say the authors, "is that drinking coffee, tea, and cola is a common and easily modifiable behaviour. Mothers, therefore, have the opportunity to alter this risk factor."

Contact Dr Rodney Ford, Community Pediatric Unit, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Continued caffeine usage causes the brain to become accustomed to a certain level an consequently more and more is needed to prevent fatigue.

Depression can be due to being addicted to caffeine need and not getting enough.

It may improve performance one day, but long-lasting effects can impair sleep the following day.

(HealthScoutNews) Sept 3, 02 -- Without realizing it, you could easily be consuming enough caffeine to be affecting your sleep or other aspects of your health. Why? Because consumption of a little of this, a little of that and a bit of something else containing this stimulant will put far more in your system, far faster, than you may realize.

In addition to coffee, tea and many soft drinks, caffeine also is contained in chocolate and many prescription and non-prescription drugs. Scientists say that a combined consumption of more than 250 mg of caffeine a day can increase your metabolism, raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and accelerate breathing. It also can offset the effects of sleep deprivation, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Because caffeine content levels vary greatly from one food or beverage to another, check out the NSF's Caffeine Calculator http://www.sleepfoundation.org/caffeine.html

From Mike:
I disagree. "Therefore, drinking a couple of cups of coffee or a few cans of cola a day poses no harm, ....." because caffeine is HARMFUL.

which reflects differences based on such things as the type of coffee bean, brands of coffee, the way coffee is brewed and the way caffeine is presented. This can be a highly valuable tool for those who want to avoid caffeine for health or dietary reasons.

From Mike:
The message is clear. Quit consuming caffeinated substances, drinking coffee or caffeinated tea. Addiction is addiction. Phony energy is phony energy. In addition to eliminating caffeine, another thing you can do to help offset the negative influence of stiffened arteries is to learn to breathe better and transport extra oxygen to your blood. This will help you not stay addicted to the synthetic energy that caffeine gives you.

When people use #599 E3Live™, they often cease needing or wanting caffeine.

Other ways of reducing or eliminating the need for caffeine. Develop your breathing with our #176 Rapidly Improving Your Breathing Video. Use our #130 Better Breathing Exercise #2.