Caffeine, Good or Bad for the Blood Pressure? This is another one of those is it or isnt it issues that probably by and large depends on a whole variety of associated issues but as it is one of the most regular of all of our queries I thought I would go ahead and try and provide some form of opinion.
Firstly from my own point of view, I have just started drinking Coffee again after an absence of about 15 years and thought that while I was undergoing a review of my medication for High Blood Pressure that I would see whether I could resume my on/off love affair with Caffeine.
To be honest the jury is still out as far as I am concerned in that yes there are the positives of being able to sit down every now and then with a hot cup of coffee and savour the rich and glorious aroma of freshly ground coffee but there is the down side also. For my part this is now a recurrence of the headaches that made me give up drinking the stuff in the first place and then there is the caffeine hit that has now started to resemble a punch!
It is probably best to try and understand the chemistry behind Coffee and the human being before you start to make what comes remotely close to a definitive pronouncement of whether Coffee is good or bad for you. How does Coffee manage to have this sort of effect that one minute has legions of aficionados claiming it to be the nectar of the gods and the next minute claiming it to be the juice of the devil!
The famous Native American hero, Chief Crazy Horse is widely acclaimed to have made the following statement about Coffee. If the Great Spirit has something better than coffee, he keeps it for himself. Now it is a medical fact that Caffeine increases blood pressure. For those with normal blood pressure this is not a problem. For those with an already increased blood pressure then this can be an issue that causes further problems.
The whole situation is further complicated by the fact that Caffeine is such a widely available substance by which I mean that it is present in a great many different beverages and drinks and also in a wide variety of freely obtainable over the counter (OTC) medicines such as certain types of Painkillers, weight loss drugs and various cold remedies.
The other side issue with the consumption of Coffee is that coffee increases the excretion of calcium which in turn tends to compound the whole High Blood Pressure Cycle by further acting as another cause of increased Blood Pressure.
As far as Women are concerned, the Calcium loss can have a further side effect and this is especially the case with regards to Woman who already have issues with a calcium deficiency. Because Coffee acts as a diuretic as has been mentioned above this further loss of calcium is aggravated via increased excretion. For those who already suffer from Osteoporosis, studies have shown that the diuretic qualities of Coffee can be an issue.
And the conclusion to all of this?
I am afraid it is the same with Coffee as with most things, there is a lot to be said of the old saying that a little bit of what you fancy does you good but in this case it really does mean a little.
Stephen Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/coffee-and-high-blood-pressure-friend-or-foe-73482.html
13 comments ↓
how long will it take before she gets better?
Hiya
I just recently met a friend of mine there last week and we went for coffee. Now the thing is she is nursing a broken heart and has been in hospital over her illness. She lost her partner of many years due to cancer and she cant seem to get over it. i have been taking her out and meeting her for tea in the coffee house i go to. But the thing is shes really sick shes got high blood pressure and i think with her other half dying as well shes feeling very lost and shes trying to medn her broken heart.
can anyone give me any tips or advice on how i can help her thru this,
serious answers only please
Has she tried going to therapy? If not you could suggest that. Most likely she is depressed so an anti depressant could help as well.
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She may need to get some profession help to see her through. Being there for her is really good on your part. Be careful though, you’re taking on a big commitment so you should also be careful your own feelings.
Good luck.
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The passing of our loved ones is the most painful of experiences .
If she believes in the afterlife , she can talk to the partner anyway ,
My dad talks to my mom daily ( she passed last year ) .
Other than that , a daily rub of Lavender flowers imparts an oil that some say is soothing and helps heal hearts .
You are good to provide company in her time of pain ,
Bless you .
>
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Just be there for your friend, I’m so sorry to hear this, it must be difficult for you as well, feeling so helpless not really not knowing what to say or do, just be there for her, it’s going to take some time but I’m sure she’ll come around.
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You’re doing it. You are there for her, you make sure she is going out, and you’re not putting an expiration date on your patience. Those are the three best things you can do. Just be there and make sure she does not shut herself off from everything. In the end, she has to save herself, but simply knowing a friend is there can keep her fighting to get through this.
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All you can do hon is be there for her but it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job already.Your friend may need some medical help though,so you could accompany her there for some support.Just keep listening & trying to get her out if she will allow but don`t push too hard as she won`t appreciate it.Nobody knows how long it takes to get over this sort of thing,everyone handles this differently.Maybe counselling might be something to think about too.Honestly it does sound like you are a very good friend to her so just keep doing what you are,& eventually she will start to feel better,but who knows when but the best of luck with everything you do.
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I understand your concern. My neighbor lost her husband to brain cancer six months ago. Saturday would have been their 38th anniversary. I’ve been doing what I can by taking her out for walks around the neighborhood and sometimes to lunch. She is doing much better now, but the pain is still very raw. The best thing I do for my friend is simply being there and letting her talk about her life with her husband and all that they went through. She is gradually grieving less and finding some joy in each day, but it’s a slow process. Just knowing that she has a friend who cares will help her tremendously.
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Truthfully, no matter how much a loving friend wants to, you can’t truly help her. Nothing will cure heartbreak from a loss but time. You, and her other close friends, can help soothe the pain by spending time with her. Letting her know that you are there and you care. Maybe you should set a girl’s night out for a specific night, and invite her other friends along?
You are a good friend. It’s great to see that.
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There is no specific time table, everyone is different. Just being there for her is all you can do. She will need someone like you who she can trust , don’t try to rush things let her know that you are not going to run out on her. As regards the blood pressure, then I know from experience that she must take her medication on a regular basis and don’t allow herself to dwell on her troubles. Probably the best thing you can do apart from that is to make sure that she is not alone, as this will only make her feel worse.
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Princess broken hearts never heal the pain only gets a bit easier I lost my wife five years ago and I Know she walks with me and talks with me every day we had 45 years of happy married life
I know you are a kind lass and will be there for your friend with a shoulder to cry on
I see someone suggested therapy It’s a thing I don’t believe in only your friend can help herself which will take time and knowing you are there for her will help a lot
Don’t try and change her ways if she bursts into tears let her cry that is part of the healing process there are times when my thoughts travel and I shed a tear and there is no shame in that
Good luck and be there for your Friend
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Thats tough on anyone, Honestly I dont know the answer But from personal experience having a loyal friend stand by you does make a difference
I call people like you "Storm Anchors" I had two, my wife and my Dad, no matter what life threw at me I knew I could swing on these anchors and in time would come back, they did not judge, or offer the usual platitudes or advice, They just stood beside me
Just be a good mate(Kiwi lingo) and let her know you are there for her, whatever, whenever
Also listn to Whiskey Mac,a good bloke who has been there and done that
God Bless you Both
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Well there isn’t a magical number, two weeks, two years, twenty years, each person is different. I would keep doing what you are doing for her, she probably needs that more than anything. She can probably tell you things that she can’t tell her family. She can probably be real with you instead of being strong for everyone else. You might try to get her to talk to her minister. I think you need to keep doing what you are doing, maybe your library has books that you could read, like Joyce Meyer Battlefield of the Mind. I can’t imagine how lost I would be if my spouse died, and I had to deal with everything in my life alone. You are a great friend to her.
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