This Popular Morning Habit Could Spike Your Blood Pressure—Here's What a Cardiologist Wants You To Know
If one of your health goals is supporting your cardiovascular health—and it should be!—you likely know how important it is to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Having high blood pressure can have serious health ramifications: People with high blood pressure are more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or kidney damage. Yikes.
With this in mind, it can be alarming to learn that one extremely common morning habit—one 66% of Americans have—can cause blood pressure to spike. Here, a cardiologist explains why it happens. But remember, health isn't one-size-fits-all, so what is a health hazard for some might not be a health hazard for you. Read on to find out whether or not this popular habit is one you should be worried about.
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The Common Morning Habit That Increases Blood Pressure
According to scientific research, drinking coffee can temporarily cause blood pressure to rise. 'Caffeine is known to cause acute, short-term blood pressure increases of up to 10 mmHg within 30 minutes of consumption,' says Dr. Yasmine Ali, MD, a cardiologist and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Ali explains that the increase in blood pressure depends on the amount of caffeine; if there isn't much caffeine in the coffee (or it's decaf), it won't cause as much of a spike, if any. She says that the reason why caffeinated coffee can temporarily increase blood pressure is that the caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and causes arteries to momentarily stiffen.
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If you have hypertension or are making a conscious effort to support your blood pressure through your diet, this may be distressing news. Does it mean you should forgo your daily cup of coffee?
Not necessarily. 'For most people, an acute rise in blood pressure from coffee isn't concerning,' Dr. Ali says. However, she explains that people with severe or poorly controlled hypertension need to be more cautious, adding, 'The increase in blood pressure may be associated in the long term with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, and these individuals should always seek the advice of their personal physician regarding whether or not drinking coffee is safe, and if so, how much is safe for them. For instance, their physician may suggest that they monitor their blood pressure at home after drinking a cup of coffee to see how much it is really affecting them."
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Is Coffee Good for Heart Health?
Knowing that coffee can temporarily raise blood pressure, it's natural to wonder if drinking it is good for heart health. Good news, coffee drinkers: As long as your coffee consumption is moderate, there's no need to forgo your morning cup of joe. 'The US Dietary Guidelines suggest that up to 400 mg of caffeine per day—about three to four cups of coffee—is generally safe for healthy adults,' Dr. Ali says.
In fact, she stresses that starting your day with a cup of coffee is actually beneficial for heart health long term, sharing, 'A 2025 study found that people who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and lower overall mortality risk compared to all-day coffee drinkers, with morning coffee drinkers being 16% less likely to die of any cause and 31% less likely to die of cardiovascular disease."
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Additionally, Dr. Ali points to recent studies that have shown how regular coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of developing hypertension, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Dr. Ali says that people who drink coffee or tea every day are at lower risk for getting heart disease, and she herself enjoys both types of beverages each day.
With all of this in mind, the temporary spike in blood pressure that coffee can cause is not something most people have to worry about. However, if you do have hypertension, it's worth it to talk to your doctor or a cardiologist about your own personal risk factors. And if you are worried about how coffee is impacting your heart, there's always decaf!
Next Up:Sources
Dr. Yasmine Ali, MD, cardiologist and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University
Overview: high blood pressure. InformedHealth.org. National Library of Medicine
More Americans drink coffee each day than any other beverage, bottled water in second place. National Coffee Association
Coffee Consumption and Blood Pressure: Results of the Second Wave of Cognition in Older People, Education, Recreational Activities, Nutrition, Comorbidities, and Functional Capacity Studies (COPERNICUS). Nutrients. 2021
Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Coffee drinking timing and mortality in US adults.European Heart Journal. 2025
Coffee and Arterial Hypertension.Current Hypertension Reports. 2021
This Popular Morning Habit Could Spike Your Blood Pressure—Here's What a Cardiologist Wants You To Know first appeared on Parade on Jul 19, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
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