Coffee drinking linked to deadly cardiovascular events

Coffee drinking is such an integral part of the daily routine of many people that it is so hard to imagine not doing it. But a new study linking it and other everyday activities to brain aneurysms and strokes may give some pause.

A study of 250 people who had a stroke had risk factors that were common activities: drinking coffee, nose blowing, strenuous physical activity, straining to defecate, having sex, drinking cola and emotional outbursts.

The study was published in the journal Stroke and the Journal of the American Heart Association and was led by Dr. Monique H.M Vlak, who is a neurologist at the University Medical Center in Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Among the precipitating factors identified by researchers, coffee drinking had the strongest link to cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage that happens when a weak vessel in the brain bursts.

"All of the triggers induce a sudden increase in blood pressure, which seems a possible common cause for aneurysmal rupture," said Dr. Vlak.

Just 2 to 3 percent of people have aneurysms but most are unaware of it. The few people who are diagnosed are advised to have surgery or reduce trigger factors to prevent a debilitating stroke or even death.

The authors of the study said their findings apply to those who are awaiting treatment or for whom treatment is not feasible. They advise these people to reduce their risk of stroke by drinking less coffee and avoiding constipation.

But some health experts say that aneurysm rupture is a rare event and the findings should not be misconstrued by people who suddenly alter their everyday routine like drinking a cup of coffee because of fears of having a stroke and dying suddenly.