Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots, heart failure, stroke and other heart-related complications. It is estimated that more than five million Americans currently suffer from atrial fibrillation (AFib), and this number is expected to raise to 12 million by 2030.
It is commonly believed that people with AFib should avoid consuming coffee and other caffeinated beverages; Anyone who has ever overdosed on caffeine can sense why it can be harmful to someone with an irregular heartbeat. However, a recent study has found that the opposite may be true and that people with AFib may benefit from regular coffee consumption.
The Does eliminating coffee help avoid the fibrillation test, or DECAF? in brief, it was presented over the weekend at the American Heart Association’s annual conference in Up-to-date Orleans. For a study published in the journal A global cadre of researchers from the University of San Francisco, the University of Adelaide and the University of Toronto sought to assess the drug’s effects on people with AFib.
As reported NBC Newsresearchers recruited 200 older adults, average age 70, all of whom had regularly drank coffee at some point in the past five years and had experienced AFib. During a four-year clinical trial, participants were randomly divided into two groups: one that drank no caffeine and one that drank at least one cup a day. Participants self-reported caffeine consumption at follow-ups after the first, third and six months of the study, and also underwent electrocardiograms or used portable heart monitors or implantable cardiac devices to record any episodes of AFib or atrial flutter, a related condition.
Over a six-month period, 111 participants experienced atrial flutter. However, this was less common among coffee drinkers – 47% compared to 64% in the non-coffee drinking group (one-third of whom admitted to drinking at least one cup of coffee during the study). Coffee drinkers also took longer to experience their first episode.
According to lead author Dr. Gregory Marcus, the study found a causal link between moderate coffee consumption and reduced cases of AFib. This does not apply to other caffeinated drinks, such as energy drinks, nor does the study determine whether there are limits to the protective properties; One cup of coffee a day has been shown to be beneficial, but it is unclear how multiple cups of coffee affect AFib. It’s also significant to note that caffeine affects different people differently, and all the people in this study were regular coffee drinkers at some point, which means they were unlikely to be sensitive to caffeine. But it’s another sign for coffee drinkers to continue what they do well into ancient age.
