Tea And Coffee

[Tilly2]

Can drinking too much tea and coffee cause your blood pressure to rise?
I drink about nine cups of tea a day and one cup of coffee. Is that too much caffine?

[Tilly2]

I meant to put this in Body and Soul!

[woofgang]

maybe if you drank heavily stewed tea but not otherwise

[Tilly2]

Right ho, woof. Must be some other cause then. Stress?

[Tilly2]

Sorry, I meant to say, thank you as well.

[woofgang]

oh yes, that will do it every time.

[Tilly2]

That'll be it then.

I have just had my BP taken in a booth outside Sainsbury's. The stroke association were doing them free of charge. My BP was 156/99 and I was told it was borderline and to get it checked out at the doctors.
Having looked up Hypertension, I put it down to drinking too much tea. Then it occurred to me that the last five weeks have been really stressful. So it must be the stress.

Thanks again, woof.

[woofgang]

not a problem Tilly. One off measurements tell very little anyway. Had you just been wizzing round Sainsburys?

[Tilly2]

I had been doing just that, woof. Whizzing is a good way of describing it.

[KARL]

Caffein in tea and coffee apparently causes spikes in blood pressure after drinking these, and also apparently some people who drink a lot of these suffer a permanent blood pressure increase. I doubt if this is much of a guide but, because since my youth I have disliked both tea and coffee, I drink neither but on the other hand, my wife drinks both although certainly in moderation. She is on blood pressure tablets whereas I am not - I am three years older. However, I should mention that high blood pressure runs in her family and not mine.

Probably, if you are likely to develop high blood pressure (genetics, weight, health issues, etc.) then caffeine consumption is not an advisable. For the most authoritative answer consult a specialist.

[Tilly2]

Thank you, Karl. I will see my doctor.

[kjn2]

I was told that to get a near normal reading that you have to take your BP three times per day and take the lowest reading. Have been doing this for the
Past three weeks on doctors instrutions.

[Tilly2]

They did reassure me that a one off reading, in a booth outside Sainsbury's, was not an indication of high blood pressure.

[Tilly2]

......but it has spooked me. That is why I am looking for reasons.

[Sir Alec]

I am in constant pain, Tilly and this can also cause high blood pressure. I have to have mine taken on a regular basis, but if I'm in a lot of pain that day, the doctor will often leave it until my next visit.
I was just thinking that your recent knee injury could cause a slight rise?

[vulcan42]

A few years I was taken to hospital with a suspected Heart attack and it actually occurred in the hospital. After they sorted me out I was transferred to the ward and the first thing I was offered was a cup of coffee.

[Tilly2]

Sir A, that is thoughtful of you. My knee is fine now.

I'm sorry to hear that you are in constant pain. That is terrible. My knee hurt for three days and that was bad enough.

[Tilly2]

Vulcan, what can I say apart from I hope you have made a full recovery?

Obviously, one cup of coffee is fine.

[woofgang]

Tilly, many years ago when I was on the pill, I went to the clinic (Marie Stopes in those far off days) Got in to see the doc and realised I had left my handbag with my wallet in the bust waiting room. I excused myself and shot off like a rabbit. When i came back she did my BP and went Hmmm that's way too high. I pointed out to her that i had just sprinted the length of the building and she conceded that "might" have something to do with it lol. She rechecked at the end of the consultation, no more than 5 minutes later and it was back down again. If you don't have a familial history of high BP, headaches, dizzy spells, blackouts, palpitations or other symptoms, had been hurtling round Sainsburys and only have borderline high BP, I would call that a result and congratulate myself on my good health.

[woofgang]

ha not "bust" waiting room, busy waiting room.

[Tilly2]

Thanks for the reassurance, woof. That's the third time in a week you've helped me out. Have another best answer!)