Surprising heart study finds daily coffee may cut AFib risk by 39%

New research suggests that drinking coffee may actually help protect against atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too quickly and irregularly, sometimes leading to stroke or heart failure.

For years, doctors have advised people with AFib and other heart issues to stay away from caffeine, fearing it could worsen symptoms. But a new study from UC San Francisco and the University of Adelaide has found the opposite: participants who drank one cup of caffeinated coffee a day had a 39% lower risk of developing AFib.

"Coffee increases physical activity which is known to reduce atrial fibrillation," explained Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, an electrophysiologist at UCSF Health and the senior author of the study, published November 9 in JAMA. Marcus added that "caffeine is also a diuretic, which could potentially reduce blood pressure and in turn lessen AFib risk. Several other ingredients in coffee also have anti-inflammatory properties that could have positive effects."

Rates of AFib have been climbing in recent years, largely due to aging populations and increasing obesity. More than 10 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed, and experts estimate that as many as one in three people may experience the condition at some point in their lives.

To explore whether coffee helps or harms, researchers designed the DECAF study (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation?), the first randomized clinical trial to test the relationship between caffeinated coffee and AFib. The project was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The trial involved 200 patients who were regular coffee drinkers and had persistent AFib or a related condition known as atrial flutter...

I was diagnosed with Afib only 3 years ago. I've had 3 cardioversions, one ablation and the Watchman device implanted. I'd been back in normal rhythm and feeling pretty good until a couple of weeks ago and now I'm back in persistent Afib. I'm scheduled for another cardioversion the day before Thanksgiving and more than likely will have to have another ablation.

I thought once you get ablation done, you're good but, no, the abnormal afib cells can keep on forming on other walls of the atria and can fire up at any time. This bout has been especially tough as I'm fatigued, out of breath and unsteady. I can't believe they're making me wait a month to get the cardioversion and there's no guarantee it will keep me in rhythm this time or for how long. The first one I had done only lasted 3 days. I'm also on antiarrhythmic medication (amiodarone as well as Entresto).

I was also told to stop coffee so I drank tea in the morning. I started back having coffee (a single 8 oz, if that) unless I'm feeling nauseous and then just tea. Afib, according to my cardiologist is more common because we are living longer. Eventually, one in three will develop it. I'm only 73 (only???) so the risk of the treatments don't outweigh the benefits.

I'm glad I had the Watchman device implanted to help eliminate strokes from blood clots and I was able to stop taking blood thinners (except 81 mg aspirin). Electrophysiologists are supposedly the most skilled and better able to handle more advanced Afib conditions. Just about any cardiologist can do cardioversions and even simple ablations, but the heavy hitters are needed when there are more abnormal cells and the procedure is more complicated and involved. Just FYI...YouTube has some really helpful videos out there that will tell you all about Afib, treatments, causes, etc.

Hope you continue to do well.

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