Coffee won't make your heart flutter, study says

[left-of-center2012]

Worried that coffee will make your heart go pitter-patter, and not in a good way? A new study puts to rest the fear that your daily fuel will cause heart palpitations -- or cardiac arrhythmia, as doctors call it. In fact, a habitual coffee habit was associated with a lower risk of developing an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation in which the heart races, or flutters in the chest, the study found. Also, a number of "possible health benefits of caffeine and coffee in particular have emerged, such as reduction in cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and overall mortality," according to the study.

The study, published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed coffee consumption by more than 386,000 people over a three-year period and compared that with rates of cardiac arrhythmia, which might include atrial fibrillation.

After adjusting for demographics, lifestyle habits and diseases and conditions that might cause heart flutters, "each additional cup of habitual coffee consumed was associated with a 3% lower risk of incident arrhythmia," wrote corresponding author and arrhythmia specialist Dr. Gregory Marcus, a professor in the division of cardiology at the University of California San Francisco, in the study.

The researchers also looked at genes known to be associated with coffee jitters. The CYP1A2 gene, sometimes called the "coffee gene," aids in the metabolism of caffeine. People with a fully functioning gene -- which can be affected by lifestyle habits such as smoking -- metabolize coffee at a normal rate. That means they can, for the most part, drink coffee without ill effect.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/19/health/coffee-heart-flutters-wellness/index.html

[Klaralven]

1. But tea gives me premature ventricular contraction

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylline

[luvs2sing]

2. If only that were true..

Caffeine can trigger worse and more dangerous things than Afib. I used to drink coffee..LOTS of coffee..for about thirty years. In early 2018, I began feeling exhausted, breathless, and weak, and I noticed when I took my blood pressure, my heart rate was alarmingly low. When I went to the doctor, he took my pulse, then said, “I need to get an EKG machine up here.”

The results of the EKG showed I was having a very high number of Premature Ventricular Contractions. I was on the edge of ventricular tachycardia. He referred me to an electrocardiologist. Since I know how long it can take to see a specialist, I asked my doc if there was anything I could do in the meantime to reduce the PVCs. He said to cut out caffeine and alcohol and try to reduce stress. Since my stress level was pretty low and I usually have maybe two alcoholic drinks a month, I decided to cut out caffeine. No more living on coffee, iced tea, and chocolate.

Within two weeks, I was starting to feel better, but the Holter monitor told me that 15% of my heartbeats were still irregular. Anything over 10% is cause for alarm and intervention. I can’t imagine what that percentage had been two weeks earlier when I could barely cross the room without gasping for breath.

By the time I actually saw the cardiologist, two months later, the PVCs were gone, and I felt great. He ordered a cardiac MRI, and they had to inject me with something to induce them so they could see what my heart had been doing. Luckily, my heart is structurally and functionally in great shape. Caffeine was the problem.

Six months later, Hubster and I went out to breakfast, and I inadvertently drank a cup of regular coffee instead of decaf. When I got home, I had a piece or two of chocolate. Within a couple hours, the PVCs started again and lasted for ten days. I learned later that year that I can’t even drink decaf for more than a couple days in a row.

Yes, I miss coffee. I can eat a little chocolate without any problems. My doctors cannot believe I’ve stayed away from coffee for over three years and always tease me about it. I tell them no matter how much I miss coffee, it isn’t worth feeling as bad as I felt when I was having the arrhythmia. I literally thought I was dying. I love coffee, but not more than life.

[wishstar]

3. My problem with caffeine is that it gives me heartburn but I can drink lots of decaf with no problem

A doctor told me about 20 years ago to lay off the caffeine coffee as he identified caffeine as culprit in my heartburn problem. It relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter allowing acid reflux.

I have had heart fluttering and arrhythmia that seems to only occur in winter triggered by combination of being too cold plus certain foods or drinks such as aged cheddar and wine and not being as physically fit as I am in summer. Using exercise bike and staying warmer avoiding exposure to freezing conditions has helped prevent the heart problems.

[ismnotwasm]

4. Huh

Explains my resting heart rate in the 50’s I guess, although that’s more likely attributed to aerobic exercise

[multigraincracker]

5. Thanks, good news for me.

I drink lots of coffee and have the opposite problem. That was I did. Now have a pacemaker and now have a regular HB of 60/minute. Got down to 28.

[Wounded Bear]

6. 3% reduction, eh? That means 33 cups/day will virtually eliminate it, right?

Seriously, though, I have switched to decaf in restaurants and half-caf at home and don't drink coffee after noon any more.

I have an occasional full caf when I visit my local barrista, but that's like 1-2 times a weeks tops.

But I do like coffee.

[BootinUp]

7. Reading coffee threads while drinking coffee

Is even better!

[frogmarch]

8. But green tea is a potential killer.

It nearly got me, anyway, and I avoid it like poison.