The Role of Coffee in Atrial Fibrillation

What is a cardio version? I have never had an afib incident and have been diagnosed for 5 years. I am wondering if I even need to take the medication or if the medication is preventing the incidents.

I just had a cardio version this past Saturday. 

Saturday I had way too much coffee, a little over a pot before noon.  Then I decided to mow the lawn with the push mower.  After about 2 hours of this, I came into the house and made a large glass of ice water.  I was about half way done when I knew right away I went into Afib.  (I've had it maybe 5 times in the past 2 years  and had one cardio version 6 months ago)

I use to run about 45 miles per week for about 3 straight years at a fast pace, in preparation for a 1/2 marathon.  That came to a stop after the cardioversion.  Just got worried it was part of the reason somehow.

The previous 5 bouts I had with Afib were all, drinking alcohol releated  as the doctor's diagnosis.

After this last one from coffee, I am pretty sure it is a dehydration related thing considering the alcohol ones were always the next morning waking with obvious dehydrations. 

The running....  I'm really surprised nothing happened there but I was noticing odd feelings from some runs, and my shirt would be soaked after each run.

I was diagnosed with Afib y a cardiologist about a year ago, and am on meds.  I'm not a heavy coffee drinker, but had a cup or two in the am and sometimes a diet coke in the pm.  Over the past month, I have cut my coffee to 1/4 caf to 3/4 decaf and have cut out any other caffeinared products.  Very noticeable difference with virtually no episodes in the last few weeks, so for me, I believe it has been an issue

I can show anybody that when i drink coffe my heart beat goes to 170-180

So i am convinced of the existing reation coffe and fibrillation,

i also notice that when i take a deep breath or bend down i get an afib attack and it last 3 to 8 sec if you can help let me know pshutt1981@yahoo.com

im 30 and i just started having afib it hits me like 10 to 15 or more times a day i have no insurance and dont know what to do i get light headed and a weird feeling in my chest can a tooth infection cause it or what should i do if you can help e mail me pshutt1981@yahoo.com thanks

I had my first "official" a-fib episode almost 11 months ago. I'm a 48 year old male in fairly good health. I went to the hospital because I thought for sure that I was dying and they informed me I was in a-fib. It took me about 4-5 hours to convert back to normal.
They put me on a calcium-channel blocker which I hated. It made me feel tired, irritable and like the walking dead. It's true that I didn't have any afib but I got really tired of feeling awful all the time. I finally quit taking it about a month ago after I read about the role of magnesium and afib. I started taking a magnesium supplement every day and I really do feel like my old self again. I don't know how long I'll go before I have another episode but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I had cut out all alcohol and coffee but now I've been reading about how one beer a day is really good for your heart and overall health and also how decaf coffee can help prevent type 2 diabetes. I am overweight so these are concerns for me.
I'm wondering what the risks vs benefits for drinking one decaf coffee and one beer per day are for us afibbers. I've tried having a beer a couple of times and, so far, nothing bad has happened. Coffee (even decaf) scares me though because I've always been really sensitive to it. Thanks for any input you can give me.

Lyle

Mellanie,

Thanks for the response. Sorry to hear about your father-in-law. When they put me on Warfarin 9 years ago, I was allergic to it. I just read the new FDA warnings regarding Pradaxa and I am very concerned. What is Xarelto? I never heard of it. I know based on the CHAD score I am a high risk, but I absolutely hate being on a blood thinner and am planning to ask my doctor about the new Bayer aspirin that enters the blood stream immediately. Since I have only had two A-fib episodes in 9 years, why couldn't I carry this new aspirin with me and take it only when I feel an episode coming on? I'm trying to watch my potassium intake, because I think the low potassium triggered my last episode. I am so afraid of a fall or car accident. It just seems to me that there should be a better way to protect people who only have occasional A-fib. This whole thing so upsetting. Thanks for any other input you may have regarding my situation.

Lorraine

I stopped drinking coffee several years ago, because of irregular heartbeats, and switched to black tea. (less caffine) It took a while, but I got used to it. When the symtoms came back, I switched to green tea. (even less caffine) I do enjoy an occasional latte, but can't overdo it. I don't know if I have A-fib. I had tests done by a heart specialist and they were normal. When I have indigestion I get what feels like a slow pounding,

It doesn't seem to matter in my case. With or without coffee, I have a-fib symptoms almost every day (varying in degrees of severity). I have been hooked up to a 48hr holter monitor and it did record several "episodes" however it doesn't seem to be enough to make my doctor concerned... which kinda concerns me. I'm Female, 26 and in good shape but have a very crappy family history when it comes to Arrhythmia. I'm thinkin' on getting a second opinion... Any other advice in the meantime??

I submitted a comment on 1/12/12. Any response would be appreciated.

Thanks

I have had 2 episodes (that I know of) in the past nine years. The most recent was about 4 months ago. It came out of the blue as I was climbing the stairs. That was the same scenario the first time it happened, 9 years ago. At that time I was on too many asthma meds and I think that is what caused it, (I don't take asthma meds anymore). I have never had a cup of coffee in my life and the only caffeine I have is when I eat chocolate, which is about 4 or 5 times a week. I am on 3 different blood pressure meds (one is a beta blocker) and my BP is pretty much under control, though when I got to the hospital during the last A-fib episode my BP was extremely high. I'm a 64 year old female, 50 lbs overweight and have controlled sleep apnea. It is very frustrating to have this problem looming overhead, because you never know when the next episode can happen. The only thing that they found the last time was that my potassium was very low. I'm taking Pradaxa now, but it is killing my stomach and I'm not happy about being on a blood thinner. When I was younger, I had many episodes of tachycardia, but I was always in normal sinus rhythm. I don't know about family history, but I think my dad seemed to have some kind of heart rhythm problem. He died when I was 18, so I don't remember too much. Also, I have had two cardiac caths during the last few years and both were perfectly normal. I'm really baffled as to why there isn't a better way for doctors to figure this problem out. I feel like a walking time bomb and it's scary. Anyone else taking Pradaxa?

I AMGOING TO HAVE CARDIOVERSION ON 12TH. OF JAN.2012 IHAVE BEEN DIAGNOSTE WITH AFIB JUST RECENTLY. I DO DRINK COFFEE, SOMETIMES 3OR4 CUPS A DAY.IHAVE LOST MY YOUNGEST SON AND MY WIFE OF 63 YRS. ALL WITH IN LESS THN TWO YEARS.I THINK MY AF. IS THE RESULT OF STRESS.THAT IS THE TIME MY AF. BECAME ABOUT. 2 YEARS AGO MY HEART WAS VERY GOOD,I WILL BE TURNING 85 THE 18TH. OF THIS MONTH

About coffee...I have persistent A Fib and coffee for me is a definite NO. It really makes all of the pounding, skipping and jumping much worse. I had cardioversion in 2009 and was good until this last summer, almost 2 years, so I will be trying it again this month. Those of you who have A Fib that comes and goes should consider yourselves lucky. Imagine having it day after day after day.

I was recently diagnosed with afib. I had symptoms on and off for about 2 years. Every time I would tell my G.P. they would do an EKG and all would be normal. I was finally put on an event monitor.I was just about to give up on th event monitor, when I just went to be and my heart went into afib. I drink regular coffee, in the morning. Probably mor that I should, but the afib occurred, at night long after any coffee was long gone from my system. A stress test was ordered. Just as I completed the test and sat down to rest, my heart went into afib. My cardiologist was able to revert my heart back with medication. ( note no coffee this day ) Xray error showed a 70 percent blockage. A cardiac cath proceedure with not blockage at all. Has anyone gone through that for no reason at all? So my question is. if it is coffe related why did it happen when I first went to bed? If I have sleep apnea ( never been tested ) why would it happen when I first went to bed? If your up all day and moving then there is no restrictions. I am now on a medication called multaq. Any info on this medication, good, bad or other wise would be helpful

I am sick and tired of not being taken seriously as to what I am positive is causing my bouts of a-fib. I've had a total of 5 episodes now, one when I was 20, and 5 this year (age 34) and the only thing common to all 5 episodes is NOT caffeine.

The first episode happened while drinking a shake with a caffeine boost from Jamba Juice after an intense workout.

The second happened in April of this year. I have (up until recently) been an extremely heavy caffeine user in the form of a minimum of 2 liters of soda every day, usually Mt. Dew or Dr. Pepper, both high in caffeine content. In April I was going through a stressfull move and had had three 2 liter bottles of soda, then at about midnight I drank a chocolate milkshake and with the first sip began experiencing heart flutters.

The Third time is the first time I went to the hospital about it and found out that these episodes were a-fib. Again, I had had a 2 liter bottle of soda earlier in the day, then went to a party that afternoon and had about 8 bottles of beer. Once I was home, around 2 in the morning, I made myself another shake, and with the first sip, as I felt the cold liquid going down my throat, just as it hit my chest, I got the flutters again.

Since then I've cut caffeine from my diet and been put on Metoprolol and have had 2 more (short) episodes, BOTH when drinking a fluid significantly colder than my core temperature. (a slushie from an AM/PM and a very cold glass of grape juice) My doctor, and the cardiologist both chuckled when I said that I thought it was being caused by significantly cold fluids. They both said that it's more likely that I have been cheating and drinking caffeinated beverages.

My AFib started while my wife was out of town and I was home along. I only drink one or two cups of coffee a day and I always have about 20% milk in it. When my AFib started I had just finished a large orange sherbet 7-up float. IT reverted back o its own after about 6 hours, I thought it was just flutter and went to sleep without any further thought of it. I had a heart attack in 2004 so I have a regular Cardiologist. He says the AFib is due to the heart attack, which was caused by a clot which was caused by an NSAID that I had been taking for 4 years on and off. The next time I had a sherbet float, about three weeks later, the Afib hit again. This time I had an event monitor so I hooked it up, transmitted and they told me to go to the ER. Which I did and they gave me a stronger beta blocker than I was already on and a blood thinner. After 2 hours I reverted. Anyway I have had a few sessions all brought on by stress and they all only lasted a minute or two at the most. I drank a Mocha Coffee a week ago and man did it make my heart pound, but I never went to AFib. So I have 2 cups of coffee a day, I average about 4 alcoholic drinks a week and over the last 3 months I have had only the few short episodes I mentioned. I don't comment normally on sites like this, but it is good to hear all of your thoughts about our situation.

hello melanie.i am on coumadin for the past 19 years,and yes,i am a member of the club one of the most selective members who frequents the lab for inr check ,weekly or biweekly visits,i eliminated grapefruits,leafy vegies,bananas,no coffee or/and caffeein in my diet,and thank god i dont regret it,it is a small price to pay for living.yes,it is quite a stuggle but i learnt to live with it,and i dont plan to change my best pal coumadin to a new one,we do live harmoniously,peacefully and learnt to respect each other respectfully.
when and if my current cardiologist will decide to drop the coumadin to a newer version i will fire him on the spot.
sincerely

I was diagnosed with atrial fib 1 1/2 years ago after starting to have heart palpitations after even one cup of coffee and then even when I didn't have coffee. I have cut out chocolate and caffeinated soda and coffee since that time. However, EVERY time I have even one cup of regular coffee, a small glass of caffeinated soda, etc. I have palpitations and get dizzy. I will take an extra beta blocker and within 15-20 minutes I am fine again. I've decided it just isn't worth the risk.

Thank you for all these comments. I just had my first experience with A-fib and had to have cardioversion and the coffee issue is front and center for me. I love my coffee and cannot handle the fact our days together may be numbered.

I had one cup the morning after my "event". Nothing happened. rhythm remained even and steady. Same thing this morning. I am walking on eggshells about this so thanks for your imput!

Hi,

I am writing this from South Africa, where I stay.
I have had irregular heart beats for awhile now but never had it diagnosed by a Doctor.
What I have found is that a tooth infection will bring it on. I have had numerous tooth infections in the past and with it my heart would beat irregulary until it was fixed then my heart would return to normal again.
Recently, however, I have noticed that after even having one cup of filter coffee during the day my heart will beat irregularly, and this can go on for hours!
So, I do not agree with the foundings of the clinical trials.
And reading the messages from the posting here, I suggest new trials be done!
Thank you for this platform! Its great!

These clinical trials must have been conducted with people who are not sensitive to coffee! It most definitely gives me AF, the more I drink the more I get it, but just one cup will give an effect.

I HAVE HAD A-FIB FOR YEARS AND ALL THE TIME I WAS TAKING DROPS FOR MY GLAUCOMA. MY WIFE READ THE WARNINGS FOR ADVERSE REACTIONS AND ONE OF THE MAIN ONES WAS IRREGULAR HEART RYTHEM. ALL THIS TIME WE NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO THE PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. I CALLED MY DOCTOR AND HE INSTANTLY CHANGED MY RX. I WENT FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR A-FIB FREE. NOW BEGINNING THIS YEAR I HAVE STARTED UP AGAIN. LIKE CLOCK WORK ONCE A MONTH AROUND THE 23rd. SOMETIMES FOR ONLY ONE DAY AND SOMETIMES UP TO FOUR DAYS. WHEN I GO INTO A-FIB THE ONLY WAY I KNOW IS THAT I GET INDIGESTION AND I AM VERY TIRED AND I JUST DO NOT FEEL GOOD. I DO HAVE SLEEP APNEA AND USE A CPAP MACHINE.

I am attempting to figure out my current A-fib problem. I was officially diagnosed with an "event" in 2004. I always knew I had A-fib but it would never show at the right time....doctor visit. Anyway, I am looking for any input regarding my current situation. Rapid heart rate - comes and goes. And of course never when I schedule a doctors visit. Symptoms. Tired all the time; no energy; recently my chest has had a dull ache, which comes and goes. I have cut out all alcohol which ususally was never more than 1 beer at most, but I do drink about 4 cups of coffee in the morning. My GP right now is no help as I never go into a-fib when I am monitored. Thanks for any suggestions.

I'd like to explain how coffee DOES affect the heart. Irregardless of any studies or research proving coffee does not cause afib, there is something coffee does cause, and thats diuresis. Coffee is a diuretic, and it will pull water along with electrolytes out with urination. Electrolytes, especially potassium, help to maintain the hearts rythm. When your potassium drops even a hair below the normal range, it will cause all kinds of heart irregularities from mild to severe, including Afib. Add to that the fact that coffee is also a cardiac stimulant and you have a recipe for The Perfect Storm...even if your electrolytes are in the normal range but on the low end, it can trigger heart palpitations, afib, SVT's, etc...the old saying still goes that too much of anything is bad for you, so beware of coffees ability to cause problems with the heart, because it can.

Hi:
Maybe caffeine is not involve in afib, but if caffeine increase your stress level you can trigger an afib that is not associated with caffeine.

Hiya folks,
I'm HOT on the trail to identifying and treating the cause of MY A-Fib/Flutter, and, I am about to be really aggravated that my Cardiologist(S!!) didn't suggest this in the first place.

two words, Alex........sleep apnea

that's it for me...I know that there are several possible causes but I don't fit ANY other profile and my cardiologist MUST have known I might be suffering from a complication from Obstructive Sleep Disorder....

Alex, do yourself a favor and get to a sleep study also known as a ploysomnography.

It all adds up. When you have the obstructive sleep disorder you're starving your body of oxygen for unhealthy periods while you sleep. After years of this unknown sleep condition negative consequences may become manifest.

I'm now using a Bi - Level Positive Air Pressure system when I sleep. It's only been one week, but along with feeling more energy during the day, one of the results I expect is improvement with my Atrial problems.

Mellanie:

First, let me say, how excited I am to have found this site. I'm 43, in otherwise great health and just had my first episode of a-fib. And, the most frustrating thing is that I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone about anything related to a-fib: why it happened, whether it's genetic (my dad has a-fib), what triggered it, whether I should be on beta-blockers or not, whether I should be on blood-thinners or not, and whether I can drink coffee (or alcohol).

I just had the episode 2 weeks ago and was successfully cardio-verted. At the hospital, they told me to give up caffeine and alcohol, so I did. I regularly drank 2 cups of black coffee a day, and as any regular coffee drinker will attest, those first 4-5 days of no caffeine made me feel much worse than the a-fib.

I'm past the caffeine withdrawal now, but I have to admit, I do miss having coffee. It'd be really nice if it's true that caffeine doesn't cause/trigger a-fib, so I thank you for your post. And, any other research you have on this topic, please do post/send as well.

Thanks so much.

You are wrong, just yesterday I drank 3 large cups of coffee, and by noon, my heart was pounding and I almost went unconscious several times. I was treated for A-fib in the hospital several times in the past and I know exactly what it feels like, I was way into it yesterday. I considered going to the hospital, but, I waited till the caffeine wore off to see what would happen and I was right, my heart rhythm went back to normal after a few hours. I'm sure the caffeine industry wont like anyone saying the truth about their product, but, someone has to. As for me, I'm quitting the stuff, I love coffee, but I prefer staying alive more. Steve C.

Marc,

Congratulations on figuring out what was driving your afib and getting rid of it. Many people never figure out what triggers their afib. Hope you stay afib-free forever.

Mellanie

had an episode of afib 9 yrs ago when i was 38.was a heavy coffee drinker and worked the midnight shift.spent the night in the hospital and converted next morning.doctors tested me for 2 days, stress tests,cardio imaging,the works,didnt find anything wrong.when they asked me about my lifestyle and found out i drank a pot of coffee a night and got 5 hrs of broken sleep a day their eyes rolled.....then went 4 caffeine and afib free yrs and started with the coffee again.1 yr later i was back in the hospital....that was 3 yrs ago with no caffeine and no afib, so nobody can tell me that caffeine doesnt play a big part with afib....for me its POISON.

I started experiencing problems with skipped beats that would take your breath away and the feeling that your heart is beating in your throat at the age of 34 - it was put down to stress. 8 years later I actually had a full on AF episode at an ambulance training session and the AF was captured on monitor. I have periodic AF. I also have sleep apnea which was diagnosed a year after my AF. I've given up smoking, I've given up alcohol (not because it triggers my AF but because I'm scared that it will). I was put on Sotalol for the AF which gradually gave me signs and symptoms of a stroke over a 2 year period, and am now on Verapamil. I haven't given up my coffee as it is my lifeline from giving up smoking and drinking, I do however find that perculated or brewed coffee will send me into AF, so will iced coffee. I'm currently on a diet and have significantly cut my coffee intake from 6 - 8 cups or more per day to 1 or 2, but I have found that by doing this it has given me break through episodes of AF. Exercise will trigger it (which doesn't help the weight loss), as will walking up inclines or stairs. I also find that going into stores where there are lots of perfume smells like candles, potpourri, or even the perfume section of a major store will set off my AF. Lack of sleep is also a big trigger for me. I currently have DVT's so I cannot stress enough the importance of daily aspirin when you have AF, I was not advised of this.

I've been recording my coffee consumption along with the number of heart palpitations and major a-fib episodes I have each day, in a spreadsheet, and so far I haven't really seen any correlation between coffee and heart activity. For me, stress and lack of sleep are definite culprits, and there are probably others I haven't noticed yet, but coffee doesn't seem to be one of them. But everyone's a-fib is probably different, originating from different parts of the heart, right? So I would imagine that different things would aggravate different people's a-fib. I read somewhere that coffee consumption actually decreases hospitalizations for heart arrhythmias. But who knows. My experience with a-fib has been quite bewildering.

I 'm an older American who has had A Fib for ten years. It started when after driving many miles, I got nto my daughter's Halloween candy...yes, some chocolate! Fatigue combined with caffine. I ended up in the hospital.

After many years, ex[erimenting with several drugs, and several more trips to the hospital, I know that both coffee and even noncaffinated beverages are not good for me. Yes, I drink a glass of wine each night, but if I am quite fatigued, wine can be a trigger!

We have to do investigate what we are doing, which helps cause it. Life without coffee and wine, is better than the suffering.....I guess. (Smile)

I do believe that any form of caffiene contributes to A-Fib. I have been on meds. for about 2 years now. I am taking digonin, and diltizem. to control the arrythmia problems. They are now under some control. I do find that when I drink coffee, colas, and also bananas I will experience episodes of A-Fib again. Definately stress can trigger my problem. I have to have alot of quite time to myself. I can no longer tolerate anyone speaking loud or any loud noises will trigger my arrythmia. I do find that when it starts I chew a baby aspirin, and to my surprize it seems to stop the arrythmia. I can no longer go dancing which triggers it also. So what does a person do if they can no longer enjoy the faster things in life that we take so much for granted every day. One day you wake up a different person unable to work, exercise, and even play with children , and g-children. It is difficult. But, I do continue to limit anything that affects my A-Fib. , and that means drinking caffinated coffee. I do occasionally drink decaf. I can tell the difference if I buy my coffee at a restuarant , and they try,and slip the regular coffee to me. My heart will always tell the truth, because it goes into A-Fib. They don't think I will know the difference.