Open AccessCaffeine and Stress: Implications for Risk, Assessment, and Management of Hypertension
Author(s) -
Hartley Terry R.,
Lovallo William R.,
Whitsett Thomas L.,
Sung Bong Hee,
Wilson Michael F.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2001.00478.x
Subject(s) - caffeine , medicine , blood pressure , cold pressor test , lower blood pressure , vascular resistance , anesthesia , cardiology , pharmacology , heart rate
Caffeine use is widespread, and its consumption increases during periods of stress. Caffeine raises blood pressure by elevating vascular resistance, and this effect is larger and more prolonged in hypertensive patients than in normotensive. The pressor response to caffeine occurs eqully in persons at rest and under stress. The elevated baseline pressures of the hypertensive patient are therefore increased by both caffeine and stress, potentially leading to undesirably high pressures. Such combined effects on blood pressure may potentially confound the evaluation of hypertension, and possibly reduce the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy. These effects are not abolished by pharmacologic tolerance to caffeine, as tolerance may not be complete with daily intake. The contribution of caffeine's effects to the development of hypertension warrants continued study, and caffeine use by patients merits consideration in terms of assessment and management of this disorder.