The expert warned about the dangers of coffee in the cold

In the cold season, many Russians like to warm up with a cup of hot coffee while outdoors or immediately after leaving a warm room. However, this combination may be less secure than it seems at first glance. On February 19, he told Gazeta about why coffee in the cold can increase the load on the cardiovascular system.Ru" internist "SM-Clinic" Shota Kalandia.

"Caffeine is a stimulant of the nervous system. It increases the production of adrenaline, accelerates the heart rate and increases blood pressure. Under normal conditions, these changes are usually short-lived and safe for a healthy person. But in the cold, the body is already under stress," said Kalandia.

In his opinion, cold causes reflex vasoconstriction of the skin and extremities — this is a natural defense mechanism that allows you to keep warm and avoid hypothermia. As a result, peripheral vascular resistance increases, and the load on the heart increases. If caffeine enters the body at this moment, its vasoconstrictive and stimulating effect is superimposed on the already existing reaction to cold.

"In such a situation, the heart has to work harder: the pulse rate increases, blood pressure increases, and the myocardial oxygen demand increases. In healthy people, this may be manifested by a feeling of palpitations, internal tension, trembling or slight dizziness," the doctor warned.

He noted that in people with hypertension, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias or a tendency to pressure spikes, such a combination can provoke a deterioration in well-being, an attack of angina pectoris or a rhythm disorder.

In addition, the specialist reported that coffee has a moderate diuretic effect. In the cold, this can lead to dehydration and increased blood viscosity, which further disrupts microcirculation and increases the burden on the cardiovascular system.

He stressed that it is not the coffee itself that is dangerous, but the conditions of its use. Strong coffee on an empty stomach, drunk outdoors at a low temperature and combined with brisk walking or physical activity, is considered the most unfavorable.

"Cardiologists recommend not drinking coffee directly in the cold, prefer moderately strong drinks and consume them in a warm room. It is better for people with cardiovascular diseases to limit caffeine in the cold season or replace it with drinks without a stimulating effect," concluded Kalandia.

Global prices for coffee and cocoa are declining. What does this mean?

The journal Medical Xpress reported on February 15 that a new study led by Dr. Karim Khaled, a former graduate student at Bournemouth University and a researcher at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, has established a link between the consumption of drinks with high sugar content and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.