Posted on 03/12/2024 9:33:48 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
When Dr. David Kao tells patients they have atrial fibrillation, their first question is usually "Do I have to give up coffee?"
His answer often surprises them: No.
"Because it's a stimulant, they feel their heart is going to race and be worse off, especially when you have an arrhythmia like atrial fibrillation," said Dr. José Joglar. "But it's not in the science."
Joglar was the lead author of new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association on diagnosing and treating atrial fibrillation, or AFib, published recently in Circulation. Among the detailed discussions of lifestyle habits, risk modification, treatments and the complexities of AFib, the authors included specific reassurances that caffeine isn't the problem.
Studies "have generally found that caffeine consumed in usual amounts is either associated with no heightened risk or a reduced risk of incident atrial fibrillation," the report said.
"The bad reputation that caffeine has is not deserved," Joglar said. "Caffeine has been shown to be safe for the heart."
Moreover, it may even do some good. A 2021 study published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure suggested that caffeinated coffee may actually reduce the risk of heart failure.
Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day—roughly four or five cups of coffee—can be safe for healthy adults, according to the FDA.
However, this cup of good cheer does come with a few caveats.
Kao agreed. "There may be other reasons people may want to stop drinking coffee, like sleep disorders or anxiety disorders," he said. "But not for the sake of the heart."
The coffee-friendly AFib recommendations don't extend to every heart condition or high blood pressure.
Nor do they extend to every kind of coffee. Kao said most studies focus on caffeinated black coffee—not decaffeinated coffee or instant coffee.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
When my great-grandfather was in his mid-30s a doctor told him that his heartbeat was so irregular that he’d be dead by 40... a sobering thought for the father a toddler with another baby on the way. He drank black coffee... with a shot of JD in it every morning. And he did die... at 97.
I’ve had Afib for over 15 years, and I drink caffeinated coffee all the time. No racing heart at all.
He’s also the chief cardiologist at StarBuck’s coffee.
jk
I was diagnosed with Afib last year. Put on butt loads of Eliquis, Metoprolol and Amidiarone.
Coffee was never mentioned as to be avoided. Alcohol yes, but not caffeine.
Irregular heartbeat can be something I neve3r heard of before until I knew someone who had this condition. It’s similar to A-fib. It’s called A-flutter, and a very effective and easy treatment for it exists.
I don’t buy it. I have had to give up coffee, tea, and cola due to Afib.
Don’t miss them like I thought I would.
Finally was able to control the Afib by adding stronger meds.
Sure is better than ablation or pacemaker.
I agree with you. I had missing heart beats. My heart would beat 9 times then miss the 10th. It is scary feeling. Caffeine accentuates the missing beat. Now I avoid caffeine as much as possible even though my heart is cured of missing beats through regular exercise. I use half caffeine coffee I found at Walmart coz I don’t like taste of decaf.
A-flutter?. My wife used to cause that.
Sounds like a study to promote the half caffeine coffee I’ve seen in grocery stores recently.
Half-Caf has been around forever.
The timing of this is interesting...
Thanks or posting; ping
Sure hope so, I have a cup every morning.
My cardiologist wants me to do an ablation because my resting heart rate is 36 and putting me on beta blockers lowers that even more. Not my favorite resolution, but one bout of a-fib is all I really want to experience.
Afib and Aflutter are twins. My husband with Afib has had episodes of both.
We did the ablation (on my husband) with perfect results.
I do it every day...................
That’s great to hear - just very frustrating to even have to consider it. The Colonel’s Wife and I exercise daily and eat healthy, have the 38 years of our marriage
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