If you are experiencing random bouts with hypertension, you may have come to a point where you need to watch out for your diet. Having some kind of a heart disease is a very difficult situation to be in. It requires constant monitoring of your blood pressure and diet. But what if you are the kind that loves drinking coffee and can't go a day without a cup of coffee at hand? Does this habit affect your blood pressure and your overall health condition?

The easy answer is yes. Various studies have shown that caffeine and high blood pressure are closely related. It can speed up your pulse rate thereby increasing your tendency to have an episode with hypertension. You may experience palpitations and irregular heart beats with just a few sip of coffee. Many doctors advise patients to consider drinking decaf instead. Decaf are totally devoid of caffeine, while retaining that certain taste inherent in caffeine. While caffeine can increase mental alertness, the negative far outweighs the positive as it can lead to a heart attack.

A cup or two of coffee can increase stolic pressure. Stolic pressure is the numerator when reading your blood pressure value. It is unknown what exactly causes this abnormality in heart rate, but it is probable that it tightens your arteries and disrupts the normal flow of blood. Some experts believe that it also drives your adrenal gland to pump out more adrenaline, which is a logical explanation of why blood pressure rises.

If you can't let go of the habit of drinking coffee altogether, try limiting it to a maximum of 200 milligrams per day. This is about 24 ounces of brewed coffee. Take note that some soda also contains coffee, so always check the ingredients before drinking a particular beverage. Also, avoid drinking coffee when you are about to engage on an intense physical activity. Drink your coffee at least three hours before you hit the gym. To avoid withdrawal symptoms, reduce your consumption in a gradual manner. You can continually decrease your intake for the next few days until you have completely dropped it by the end of the week.