Study reveals that coffee drinkers walk more, but sleep less

Caffeine’s effects on the human body can vary greatly from person to person; and the consumption of coffee in adequate doses can be very beneficial for health.

To better illustrate the effects of coffee on human health, in this new study, scientists recruited 100 healthy women and men in the city of San Francisco, United States. They equipped them with fitbits (which are smart watches with glucose monitors) and used electrocardiogram devices to track heart rhythms for two weeks.

The study done by The New England Journal of Medicine, also reports that people move more, walking around 1,000 steps a day. But on the other hand, caffeine can greatly increase the risk of heart palpitations.

Each participant was instructed to drink as much coffee as they wanted for two days and then not drink it for another two days, repeating this cycle for a brief period of 14 days.

_{Cup of coffee. (Photo: Reproduction/Xtock Adobe)}

Researchers were able to find that on days when they consumed coffee, participants took an average of 1,059 steps more than on days without drinking the beverage. But on those days when they ate, sleep was greatly impaired, with participants sleeping about 38 minutes less. The more coffee they drank, the more physical activity they did and the less they slept.

Coffee also directly affected the heart. Scholars have not found evidence of a significant relationship between coffee consumption and premature contractions in the heart, which are the early heartbeats, which are very common and which we all experience at some point in our lives. These beats arise from the upper chambers of the heart, the researchers explained in the published article. They felt these “palpitations” as a stronger vibration or pounding in the chest.

“People with more premature atrial contractions are at greater risk of developing a clinically significant heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation.”, declared Marcus, one of those responsible for publishing the study.

Featured photo: Coffee being made in a machine. (Photo: Playback/Unsplash)