Now due to the rise in people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, a lot of questions are being asked as to what can cause these diseases. Are there some foods we should stay clear of? Should we exercise more? The list goes on and on.
In this article we’ll be talking about coffee and the possible links it may have to Angina. We’ll be sure to get to the bottom of this topic and infer if coffee, the number one morning drink is bad for your health.
What Is Angina?
Angina pectoralis or as we know it Angina is a a pain or heaviness that we feel in our chest. The pain feels as if something were squeezing or putting pressure inside our chest causing a sensation of having a heavy weight on top of us. This pain results from decreased or inadequate blood supply to the heart muscles. While it may seem serious, Angina is not a problem in itself, it’s usually a symptom of an underlying illness or condition depending on the type you have. Don’t worry, not all Angina indicate that you’re gonna die or anything. You just have to find out why you are having these pains. So it is advisable you go see your doctor, who knows it may not even be angina you have.
The three types of angina are:
Stable Angina. This is the most commonly experienced form of angina attack. It generally occurs when the heart is under pressure and working harder than usual. Stable angina can normally be predicted as it has a regular pattern based on your activities. If you know you have stable angina, you can learn to recognize the pattern and predict when the pain will occur.
Unstable Angina. Unstable angina doesn’t follow a defined pattern like you expect to find with stable angina. It can occur with, or without, physical exertion and it is not relieved by rest or by medicine.
Variant (Prinzmetal’s) Angina. A variant angina attack is not common and usually occurs while you’re resting. The pain of such an attack can be severe. It usually happens between midnight and early morning. This type of angina is relieved by medicine or with the use of Nitrous Oxide products.
How Does Caffeine Affect Your Heart?
Now we all know that the main chemical in coffee is caffeine and caffeine has some metabolic effects It is reported that caffeine intake increases blood pressure due to that caffeine temporarily increases the diameter of blood vessels, it had not been proven that it will cause any long-term increase in blood pressure. Despite much study, the relationship between caffeine and increased blood pressure is still pretty much is not clear. So far, no evidence has been found that pointed caffeine as a cause of any heart disease.
Consequently, consumption of caffeine does not increase the risk of heart disease or heart attack, as shown repeatedly by studies. A study on 85,000 women over a ten-year period found that there was no increased risk of these diseases, even in those who drank more than six cups of coffee per day. While the results showed that the risk was the lowest for those who did not drink coffee, it also showed that those who drink a lot of coffee have almost the same risk. In an unexpected twist, people who drank only small amounts of coffee (1-3 cups per day) seemed to have the highest risk, leading researchers to believe that over time, the body becomes tolerant to the stimulant effects of caffeine.
So we now see that caffeine does not affect the heart negatively in any way, it has even been shown to prevent some cardiovascular diseases. Although that does not mean that those suffering from cardiovascular diseases should continue chucking down coffee every money. Contact your doctor about such issues, caffeine does increase blood pressure although it is temporary. So be sure to take it easy.
What Are The Causes Of Angina?
Angina pectoralis can be caused by several factors depending on the type you have. In most cases, the cause of angina is atherosclerosis, a build-up of fat as well as a loss of elasticity of the coronary arteries, the ones wrapping the heart which function is to carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Because of these two factors, the space inside the coronary arteries narrows causing not enough blood to reach the heart.
Other causes of angina
Angina can worsen by the following health conditions:
1. Tachycardia or abnormally rapid heartbeat
2. Anemia
3. Disease of the valves of the heart
4. Hypertrophy of the heart muscle
5. Spasms in the coronary arteries
Risk factors for angina or chest pain
As we have seen, atherosclerosis is almost always at the root of angina or chest pain because it causes the heart muscle not to receive enough blood, especially when we make a physical effort. Therefore, the best way to prevent angina is to prevent atherosclerosis.
Risk factors for atherosclerosis
1. Family history of atherosclerosis
2. High cholesterol, especially LDL
3. High blood pressure
4. Smoking
5. Diabetes type 1 and 2
6. Obesity
7. Stress
8. Lack of regular physical activity
The Symptoms Of Angina
The symptoms of Angina include:
- Chest pain or discomfort, possibly described as pressure, squeezing, or burning
- Pain in your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back accompanying chest pain
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
How To Relieve Angina
The most preferred way of treating angina is aspirin. Aspirin has some blood thinning qualities, which will in turn make the blood flow easy and fast. Hence, the blood will reach all parts of human body. In addition, aspirin will also help to dissolve little blood clots, which are the reason behind angina pains. On the other hand, there are also some other treating methods like magnesium administration, which is usually recommended for mild angina. Magnesium injections are also used to treat severe angina cases. It is strictly advised to consult the family physician before going with any kind of treatment.
Final Thoughts
So in summary we’ve seen that coffee and Angina are not related at all. So you can go on with your morning routine, but remember like your mummy said “too much of everything is bad for you” even coffee, no matter how good it tastes.
