How many cups of coffee per day are safe for the heart?

The American Heart Association has presented the largest review of data on the effects of coffee on the cardiovascular system. The conclusion turned out to be unexpectedly optimistic: for most healthy adults, up to five cups a day do not carry additional risk for the heart. The results of the work were published in the journal Circulation.

Coffee remains one of the most popular beverages on the planet, yet its impact on the heart has been the subject of heated debate in the medical community for decades. Early studies recorded short-term increases in heart rate and blood pressure spikes after a cup of coffee, which gave rise to serious concerns about the risk of arrhythmia and heart attack. Later large-scale studies only added fuel to the fire, producing contradictory results.

The new review put an end to the discussion, encompassing data from hundreds of clinical and epidemiological studies conducted over recent decades. The authors assessed in detail the association between coffee consumption and the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and sudden cardiac death.

The results proved encouraging: moderate coffee consumption — one to five cups per day — does not increase the risk of cardiovascular events in most people and may even provide a slight protective effect. Scientists attribute this benefit to the action of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in coffee, which reduce chronic inflammation — one of the key risk factors for heart disease.

However, cardiologists emphasize that there are important exceptions. Pregnant women are advised to limit themselves to one or two cups. People diagnosed with arrhythmia or unstable blood pressure need to discuss their intake with a doctor on an individual basis. An equally significant nuance involves additives: coffee with large amounts of sugar and cream can negate all potential benefits due to extra calories and saturated fats.