A hot cup of coffee can cheer the soul, especially on a cold winter morning, but if you have high blood pressure, you may be better off not drinking it! Or if you live in Florida hot weather!!! At least before you exercise.  Researchers studied the effects of caffeine on 28 men between the ages of 30 and 45.  Seventeen of the men had hypertension (their blood pressure ranged from 140/90 to 160/105) and 11 had normal blood pressure rose higher during exercise after they drank coffee than when they didn’t drink it.  However, caffeine didn’t affect the hear rates of the men with normal blood pressure during exercise.

As blood pressure, the systolic pressure of both groups rose higher during exercise after coffee was consumed, and the diastolic pressure of the men with hypertension was also higher.  The point is that during exercise, caffeine may place additional stress on the cardiovascular systems of men with hypertension.  The effects may start within 30 minutes and last three hours.

Be aware of the sudden change in your body when starting a new routine.  Daily exercise is a good way to lower down your blood pressure.  But caffeine intake could change it.  All that said, caffeine still offers one of the best pros-to-cons ratios of any stimulant. As with anything, moderation is key. So watch your intake — but feel free to keep sipping, especially before your sweat session.

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