There is a relationship between coffee consumption and heart attacks, but there is always discussion about whether that relationship is positive or negative. Apparently, the way of preparing and consuming the drink is key in the cardiovascular effect.
Coffee consumption and heart attacks are linked, although scientific studies differ in their views on it. For some researchers, coffee increases cardiovascular risk, and for others, the opposite happens.
Among world drinks, coffee occupies an important place. It is taken in almost the entire planet and constitutes a habit that exceeds food itself. The coffee moment is, many times, a meeting and dialogue space.
Therefore, the effect it may have on health is of interest . There are so many consumers that, if an authentic risk to life is detected, strict measures should be taken.
In general, there is a bad press linking caffeine to cardiovascular risk factors . Furthermore, it is not uncommon for patients who suffered heart attacks to suspend coffee by their own decision, without medical indication.
To talk about coffee consumption and heart attacks, it used to be established that caffeine was the substance to be studied . That brought up other drinks that also contain it, such as certain energizers. But a Swedish scientific study showed that coffee as such is a problem according to the way it is prepared and not precisely because of caffeine alone.
The way of drinking coffee and the risk of heart attacks
A study group from the University of Gothenburg investigated the differences between the cardiac effects of various forms of coffee preparation . It is interesting how each modality affects the mortality of the studied groups.
According to this study, the filter is the main determinant of the relationship between coffee consumption and heart attacks. When coffee is filtered, substances with unwanted effects are prevented from reaching the body.
These substances are capable of increasing LDL cholesterol values, increasing heart rate and altering heart rate . All three issues are negative for the arteries and the heart. It is even worse if the individual in question has other worrying factors, such as obesity, or a higher risk pathology, such as diabetes.
According to researchers in Sweden, when coffee is not filtered, 30 times more toxic substances pass into the body than those that filter. That difference can be significant in terms of health.
Keep reading: Solar erythema: recommendations and care
Studies with contrary opinions
On the other hand, contrary to the Swedish researchers, there are meta-analyzes that advocate the use of coffee as a cardiac protector , rather than as a risk factor. This was part of the cardiological recommendations in the last decade.
A meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found no association between coffee consumption and heart attacks. On the contrary, the effects that emerged from the review speak of a benefit .
In the analyzed subjects, if they drank up to 4 cups of coffee daily, they had an 18% lower risk of dying earlier. In conclusion, regular and moderate coffee drinkers had a longer survival.
The explanation could be in the antioxidants in coffee , which are ingested together with caffeine. These substances are important for cellular aging , since they block the internal toxins that the human being produces by the mere fact of being alive.
Find out more: Somniphobia or fear of sleep
Cortisol problem: coffee consumption and heart attacks
Caffeine is a substance that increases the production of cortisol in the body . Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, since it is released by humans to increase its alert and defense response.
When there is excess cortisol, the heart rate increases and the blood pressure rises slightly. Both situations are not desirable in a cardiac patient, or in someone with high cardiovascular risk.
Regular drinkers get used to those slightly increased cortisol levels . The elevation of blood pressure is not significant and does not appear to increase cardiac pumping. Anyway, those who are suspicious of the drink and its effect on the heart, avoid it for this reason.
It is not clear that coffee consumption leads to heart attacks due to cortisol, but research is ongoing . Keeping the levels of this hormone at bay is one of the therapeutic hopes against high blood pressure, for example.
Should we consume coffee?
The answer is that we can have coffee if we like the drink . Like everything in life, moderation will be a way to ensure that possible adverse effects do not appear.
It is important to understand that drinking coffee alone cannot lead to heart attacks . Other aspects such as diet and exercise are involved in the cardiovascular risk equation. Ultimately, it is healthy habits that take care of us.
What is the relationship between coffee consumption and heart attacks?
By beauty tips
Telecommuting is an option that is especially important in this confined season. We tell you both its advantages and its consequences for health.
In this time of confinement, many people have stopped working in their usual place and have changed to teleworking. It's about working from home , through computers and the Internet.
Teleworking is a new situation for most and has both advantages and disadvantages . Below we will talk about how teleworking can affect health.
What does teleworking consist of?
Although it is an option that is not possible for all types of trades, teleworking consists of carrying out your role in the company in a place far from its headquarters ; that is, without having to go to the offices.
This is done through communication technologies , whether through videoconferencing, email, or other digital tools.
What are the advantages?
Of course, in the current situation that we are going through, the main advantage of teleworking is that it allows you to continue carrying out your work activity without leaving home , which is why it is compatible with confinement .
In addition, regardless of its role in this exceptional situation, teleworking has many other advantages , some of them are:
- It enables the worker to save time traveling to the workplace. Thus, people save time on a daily basis, as well as financially, since they do not have to pay the amount of public transport or gasoline.
- It allows you to spend more time at home , with what that entails: more time with children or to carry out household chores.
- It makes certain self-management possible for each employee. Although in some companies the working hours are preset even in teleworking, in others it is not and simply deadlines will be required to finish the corresponding tasks. In this case, each person will be free to distribute the working hours.
You may be interested: Somniphobia or fear of sleep
How does teleworking affect health?
Although, as we have already seen, it has many advantages, not everything is good when it comes to teleworking. We must keep in mind that we are social beings . With teleworking, we lose the habit of going to the office with colleagues.
This, most of the time, provides us with well-being and relaxes us, by allowing us to relate to other people. Lonely workdays at home can increase our anxiety .
Another disadvantage comes from the use of technologies. On the one hand, sitting for a long time in front of the computer can generate frustration and anxiety . In addition to that, it can cause other discomforts such as the following:
- Irritation in the eyes .
- Cervical tension.
- Back and neck muscle pain.
- Headaches.
Likewise, by not having a movement routine, we spend less energy . Teleworking often involves getting out of bed and sitting in front of the computer screen in a few minutes, without much more physical activity throughout the workday.
This can cause us not to spend as much energy as we are used to consuming and that we arrive at bedtime nervous and sleepless. This can lead to insomnia problems and schedule disorder .
Another consequence derived from the lack of physical activity are digestive problems. Lack of movement makes our digestive system not work as it should. The digestions become heavier, we can find ourselves with constipation problems, a feeling of satiety, gas or heartburn.
It is also possible that the opposite happens and that, due to accumulated anxiety, we are constantly hungry.
It may interest you: Sedentary risks for your brain
Manage telework to take care of our health
Although teleworking undoubtedly has many advantages for everyone, we must bear in mind that there are also disadvantages. It is also true that many of these drawbacks have a solution.
Maintaining healthy habits, with predetermined schedules and good postural hygiene , are some of the measures that can make it more bearable. In addition to this, it is important that we control our meals on these days of little physical activity.
Another tip is that we establish a daily exercise routine that we can do at home to stay fit, release tension and waste energy. With all these guidelines, it will be easier for all of us to work from home and we will be able to take advantage of its good things.
How does teleworking affect health?
By beauty tips
Postural hygiene helps us overcome the effects of sedentary lifestyle on the spine. The less and worse we move, the more the joints suffer.
Postural hygiene refers to a set of recommendations to avoid back pain , with adequate protection of the spine. This group of bones is vitally important to everyday life.
People often experience cervical or low back pain relatively frequently. It is true that these pains are due to different causes, but fortunately, a very small percentage of these will be the consequence of serious causes.
In many cases, the modern rhythm of life will be a factor that will influence the presence of pain, since sedentary lifestyle is a circumstance that causes back and neck discomfort . To this will be added, in addition, bad postures.
We will see below what are the consequences of a sedentary life and the keys to good postural hygiene.
What are the consequences of a sedentary life?
Inactivity in general results in a sedentary life. This is associated with maintaining body postures for long periods, always in the same position. Lack of turnover numbs muscles and tendons.
Due to the conditions of modern life, there is a greater use of means of transport and fewer walks to carry out daily transfers. Motorized vehicles are one more element that increase sedentary lifestyle .
As a matter of agendas and times, people of active working age do less physical activity , which translates into a higher average weight with the global obesity epidemic. Although not only fatty tissue is the problem, but also the muscles suffer from weakening.
See also: Sedentary risks for your brain
What does postural hygiene consist of?
To the rescue of the bone and muscular consequences of sedentary lifestyle, postural hygiene appears. Basically, we are talking about corrections when sitting and standing , as well as modifications in the sleeping posture.
In the most active part, postural hygiene also helps us carry weight in a healthy way and carry out physical activity with the correct parameters so as not to injure ourselves. We will see in detail each of the keys to good postural hygiene.
Corrections for sitting and standing
The following is proposed:
- Avoid long periods of time in the same posture , ideally no more than 30 minutes.
- Maintain correct posture when sitting, without a previous position of the head.
- Have head and trunk aligned.
- Do not stay for long periods with your head facing down or up.
- When using computers, place the monitor at eye level. The keyboard, in turn, must be wide.
- Pay attention to the need to wear glasses if there are vision disorders.
- Use chairs that allow you to sit with your back supported and feet on the floor . Those with armrests are preferred.
Changes in sleeping posture
For sleeping, the side and back position is preferred. This should be combined with the use of a single pillow, neither too low nor too high.
As in the upright position, head and trunk must be aligned, without putting your hands under the skull or putting your mouth down. The mattress is essential in postural sleep hygiene, since its poor quality will be impossible to counter with the positions.
The place to sleep is the bed. Resting on furniture that has not been prepared for this function is counterproductive, as is the case with the sofa and armchairs.
See also: How lack of rest affects the brain
Adjustments when carrying weight
If we are going to carry weight or have to carry out hard work, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- Distribute the loads between both upper limbs or shoulders , in case you are carrying weight or a backpack .
- If you must lift weight that is on the floor, bend your knees when you reach it.
- Use a platform or ladder in case you have to pick up packages that are above the shoulders.
- Keep loads close to the body.
- Learn to position yourself properly, privileging the alignment of the spine and load distribution .
Physical activity
It is suggested to do physical activity several times a week, aerobic type. Examples of recommended activities include walking, running, swimming, and biking. In this way the sedentary lifestyle to which we are often forced is balanced. Physical activity should be combined with muscle stretching exercises.
Even at work, it is advisable to stay active, whenever possible . And on the way to work environments, it is suggested to use fewer motorized means of transport. Minimal mobility can be implemented in the same house, walking while talking on the phone, for example.
What is the purpose of good postural hygiene?
The main benefit will be the protection of the joints along the spine, as well as avoiding contractures in the back and neck area . In turn, it will improve movement and the presence of pain.
We could add to all of the above the importance of leading a healthy life, avoiding being overweight and limiting stressful situations.
Back and neck pain is usually self-limiting . It is also true that they are recurring. In some patients there are situations in which the back and neck contractures require specific treatment.
In case the pain continues over time or worsens in intensity, it is suggested to consult your GP or spinal specialist. He will know how to guide the diagnostic process.
Keys to good postural hygiene
By beauty tips
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
