Caffeine before a workout can damage the heart

According to a new study, if you were thinking that a cup of coffee might make that workout at the gym easier, think again!

The researchers at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, are suggesting that caffeine can directly damage the heart during exercise, and that includes high caffeine sports drinks.

Researchers claimed that although caffeine is stimulating, it has the opposite effect on the pumping of blood to the heart.

They arrived at this conclusion after a study of 18 fit young adults using PET scans to examine the flow of blood to the heart.

The researchers apparently found that while the volunteers were resting, caffeine made no difference to the flow of blood to the heart, but after exercise, caffeine significantly reduced the flow of blood to the heart.

Lead researcher Dr Philipp Kaufmann, says following the findings, he would not now recommend that any athlete drink caffeine before sports.

He says that though it may not be a physical stimulant, it could adversely affect physical performance.

He believes caffeine may not be as harmless as initially thought, and says the warning is particularly applicable to those who suffer from coronary artery disease or are exercising in a mountain terrain.

Dr Kaufmann says the study provides good evidence that, with regard to myocardial blood flow, caffeine is not a useful stimulant.

He says that though it may be a stimulant at the cerebral level in terms of being more awake and alert, that may produce the feeling of having a better physical performance.

The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, January 16th 2006.