Many people can't even think to start their day without coffee, but what does that cup of caffeine actually do to the body? A recent study reveals how it affects heart health including, rhythm, sleep, exercise, and blood sugar.
The Coffee and Real-time Atrial and Ventricular Ectopy (CRAVE) trial published in the The New England Journal of Medicine on 23 March 2023, explored this fact using technology. The study involved 100 healthy adults with an average age of 39 where each participant wore three devices, one to record heartbeat, one to track activity and sleep, one to monitor blood sugar, according to Harvard Heath.
Researchers also tested their genes to determine how quickly they metabolise caffeine. Participants alternated between drinking coffee for two days, and avoiding it for the next two days, continuing this pattern for 14 days. They were allowed to drink as much coffee as they wanted during the "on" days, and activate their heart monitor after each cup.
The result showed that participants took about 1,000 more steps on coffee-drinking days compared to the days they abstained. However, the increased activity came with a downside, the participants also slept 36 minutes less per night on average.
As for heartbeat, coffee did not increase premature atrial contractions, often felt as irregular heartbeats, but it slightly increased premature ventricular contractions which are extra beats originating in the heart's lower chambers like palpitations.
Blood sugar levels showed no major changes with coffee consumption, and genetic differences in caffeine metabolism did not lead to any noticeable effects.
However, the study suggests that while coffee may boost physical activities, it can also reduce sleep and cause minor heart rhythm changes.
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