Temporary Stroke Risk After Drinking Coffee?
Temporary Stroke Risk After Drinking Coffee?
Nov. 1, 2010 -- Stroke risk increases in the hour after drinking a cup of coffee, but this risk reverses itself within two hours, a study shows.
The increased stroke risk is seen among occasional coffee drinkers or those who drink one or fewer cups of coffee a day.
The study is published in the November issue of Neurology.
The Stroke Onset Study included 390 people who had an ischemic stroke. This is the most common type of stroke; it occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked.
Participants were asked about the amount of coffee they drank in the hour preceding their stroke and their typical coffee drinking habits. Seventy-eight percent said they drank coffee in the previous year.
Among people who reported drinking one cup of coffee a day or less, stroke risk doubled in the hour after they consumed a cup of coffee, the study shows.
“Coffee has been documented to have acute deleterious physiologic effects, including increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Compared to decaffeinated coffee, consumption of caffeinated coffee acutely increases stiffness in the arteries,” study researcher Elizabeth Mostofsky, MPH, writes in an email to WebMD.
The new findings do not seem to apply to those who drank more than one cup of coffee per day.
It's possible that those who drink coffee more frequently may develop a tolerance to the short-term effects of caffeine, the researchers speculate.
There was also no increased risk seen among people who drank caffeinated tea or soda, possibly because there is a lower concentration of caffeine found in tea and soda compared to coffee, the researchers write.
It is hard to get reliable information about some of the events leading up to the stroke because many people are unable to speak after a stroke. The people in the new study had relatively mild strokes and were able to be interviewed. The findings may not apply to people who have more severe or fatal strokes, the researchers point out.
Most experts urge caution in interpreting the new findings on coffee intake and stroke risk. Other studies have found regular coffee drinking does not increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Several studies have shown that drinking coffee reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. What's more, there are many known, powerful risk factors for stroke that can be modified.
The increased stroke risk is seen among occasional coffee drinkers or those who drink one or fewer cups of coffee a day.
The study is published in the November issue of Neurology.
The Stroke Onset Study included 390 people who had an ischemic stroke. This is the most common type of stroke; it occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked.
Participants were asked about the amount of coffee they drank in the hour preceding their stroke and their typical coffee drinking habits. Seventy-eight percent said they drank coffee in the previous year.
Among people who reported drinking one cup of coffee a day or less, stroke risk doubled in the hour after they consumed a cup of coffee, the study shows.
“Coffee has been documented to have acute deleterious physiologic effects, including increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Compared to decaffeinated coffee, consumption of caffeinated coffee acutely increases stiffness in the arteries,” study researcher Elizabeth Mostofsky, MPH, writes in an email to WebMD.
Drinking More Than a Cup a Day
The new findings do not seem to apply to those who drank more than one cup of coffee per day.
It's possible that those who drink coffee more frequently may develop a tolerance to the short-term effects of caffeine, the researchers speculate.
There was also no increased risk seen among people who drank caffeinated tea or soda, possibly because there is a lower concentration of caffeine found in tea and soda compared to coffee, the researchers write.
It is hard to get reliable information about some of the events leading up to the stroke because many people are unable to speak after a stroke. The people in the new study had relatively mild strokes and were able to be interviewed. The findings may not apply to people who have more severe or fatal strokes, the researchers point out.
Second Opinion
Most experts urge caution in interpreting the new findings on coffee intake and stroke risk. Other studies have found regular coffee drinking does not increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Several studies have shown that drinking coffee reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. What's more, there are many known, powerful risk factors for stroke that can be modified.
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