Many people living with arrhythmia are convinced that coffee is forbidden for them. Traditionally, doctors have advised patients to avoid the drink, believing its stimulating effect could pose a risk to the heart.
Arrhythmia develops due to disruptions in the heart's electrical system. Instead of clear, regular impulses, chaotic contractions occur in the atria. Patients often describe these sensations as a "fluttering” or "tumbling” of the heart in the chest, accompanied by shortness of breath and dizziness.
This condition increases the risk of heart failure, promotes blood clot formation, and raises the likelihood of a subsequent stroke.
Why Doctors Recommended Giving Up Coffee
For years, physicians believed that coffee's stimulating properties could worsen heart rhythm disturbances. If the electrical system of the heart is already malfunctioning, additional stimulation was thought to aggravate the problem.
Until recently, avoiding coffee was considered a safe precaution to reduce even a hypothetical risk of triggering an arrhythmia episode.
How the Study Was Conducted
To test whether these recommendations were justified, an international team of cardiologists conducted a study involving 200 patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Before the study began, all participants underwent cardioversion - a procedure in which a controlled electrical shock, synchronized with the heart's cycle, is delivered to restore normal sinus rhythm.
This procedure effectively "resets” the heart's electrical activity.
After cardioversion, participants were divided into two groups. One group was instructed to completely avoid coffee for six months. The second group was allowed to consume coffee in moderate amounts.
Throughout the study period, doctors closely monitored the patients, recording any recurrence of arrhythmia.
Unexpected Results After Six Months
The results prompted researchers to reconsider coffee's role in the diet of people with arrhythmia.
Among participants who continued drinking coffee, 47% experienced a recurrence of atrial fibrillation. In contrast, 64% of those who completely abstained from coffee suffered a return of the rhythm disorder.
Moderate coffee consumption not only failed to increase the risk of arrhythmia but appeared to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Important Limitations and Cautions
The researchers emphasize that their findings do not encourage unlimited coffee consumption. The conclusions apply only to reasonable amounts — no more than one to two cups per day.
The effects of larger quantities of coffee or caffeine-containing products such as energy drinks were not examined in the study.
In addition, individual patient characteristics may influence how coffee affects heart rhythm, and these factors cannot be fully accounted for in a single experiment.
What Patients Should Do
Despite the encouraging results, experts stress that any changes to diet or lifestyle should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Only a physician familiar with a patient's medical history can provide safe, personalized recommendations.
