Caffeine and Blood Pressure: Why Does It Affect People Differently?
Consuming caffeine may cause a slight and temporary increase in blood pressure, but this rise usually subsides once its effects wear off. However, the long-term impact of reducing or eliminating caffeine on blood pressure does not follow a single rule. Instead, it varies from person to person depending on several factors, including the body’s tolerance to caffeine, baseline blood pressure levels, the source of caffeine, and individual health and physiological characteristics.
Experts emphasize that reducing caffeine intake may lessen the temporary rise in blood pressure for some individuals. However, it cannot be concluded that avoiding caffeine will necessarily lower blood pressure for everyone, as the body’s response to this stimulant differs among individuals.
In general, caffeine may cause a modest increase in blood pressure that lasts anywhere from about one and a half hours to approximately nine and a half hours after consumption. The intensity and duration of this effect vary based on several factors, including habitual caffeine intake, blood pressure levels before consumption, body weight, the use of oral contraceptives, smoking, and pregnancy.
For this reason, experts consider the body’s response to caffeine highly individual, making it impossible to generalize either its effects or the effects of discontinuing it across all people.
The Body’s Tolerance to Caffeine Changes Its Effects
Researchers indicate that regular coffee consumption may lead to the development of caffeine tolerance, including tolerance to its effects on blood pressure. This helps explain why people who regularly drink coffee respond differently from those who do not.
In a study involving 77 healthy adults, researchers found that drinking espresso increased systolic blood pressure among participants who did not usually consume coffee, while the same effect was not observed in those who regularly drank it.
Despite these findings, researchers continue to debate whether this difference is due to the development of caffeine tolerance or whether long-term coffee consumption alters baseline blood pressure levels. It also remains unclear whether caffeine’s effects are limited to temporary increases in blood pressure or if they extend to long-term cardiovascular effects.
For this reason, there is still insufficient scientific evidence to confirm that stopping coffee consumption will necessarily reduce blood pressure in people who habitually drink it.
When Does Reducing Caffeine Become More Important?
On the other hand, reducing or eliminating caffeine intake may be an appropriate option for some individuals with severe high blood pressure.
A large-scale study that followed 18,609 people over approximately 19 years found that individuals with stage 2 or stage 3 hypertension who consumed two or more cups of coffee per day were more than twice as likely to die from stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular disease compared with those who drank one cup or less per day.
Researchers suggest that the temporary rise in blood pressure caused by caffeine may push blood pressure to dangerous levels in this group, increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications.
When caffeine is stopped abruptly, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms that typically begin 12 to 24 hours after the last dose. These symptoms include headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and nausea.
There is no evidence confirming a consistent pattern of blood pressure changes during caffeine withdrawal. However, physicians advise individuals with high blood pressure to consult their healthcare providers, as some withdrawal symptoms may resemble those of elevated blood pressure.
They also recommend gradually reducing caffeine intake rather than stopping suddenly, while ensuring adequate rest, staying well hydrated, and using over-the-counter pain relievers when necessary to help ease withdrawal symptoms.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi.
Publication Date: July 13, 2026.
Last Updated: July 2026.
