Alcohol and AF

[Elaine1951]

How many people think that alcohol plays or played a part in their AF ?

[Hidden]

For me... zilch, zero, whether it be alcohol or any other non alcoholic drink. Food - absolutely!

John

[Trevor3839]

I don't drink very often and then only a couple. But I've not noticed any link.

Chinese takeaway if anything seems to have an effect on me.

But when AF arrives ( since ablation 2 weeks ago) it seems to be when I'm relaxing. Last night I was asleep and it woke me up.

[Sarah57 in reply to Trevor3839]

Hi Trevor

I get it when relaxing too and after food in the evening.

Am watching out for your posts as now booked in for my first ablation on April 8th. They told me yesterday things can bump around for the first 3 months. Good luck and hope yours settle. Any more tips for ablation day? Little bit anxious but keen to sort out and get active again.

Best wishes

Sarah

[Baden113 in reply to Trevor3839]

Chinese restaurant meals / take aways nearly always contain MSG {mono sodium glutamate}. MSG can trigger AF in some people, including me! Do a little research and I am sure you will find the references.

[Barry24]

Hi Elaine,

Good question, I am testing this out at the moment. Had a nice glass of red with my curry last night, so far no reaction (touch wood).

Best Wishes

Barry

[jedimasterlincoln]

I believe it does make my heart beat faster, the odd palpitation, whether it's alcohol or none alcoholic cider. I believe the sulfates that can contribute to it are present in both.

[Elaine1951 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

It seems very common that the sulphates cause problems. interesting.

[seasider18 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Sulphates are often a problem for me but not for AF but sneezing and a running nose for hours. Fish and white wine together are guaranteed to set it off.

I had episodes on Tuesday and Wednesday after dinner but had my usual glass of Fitou so I blamed the cabbage that I do not often eat

[jennydog]

I don't drink alcohol at all. I rather suspect that if I developed a taste for it then I would rapidly become addicted. Presently I drink lime and lemon. Half a glass of wine can put me to sleep.

I can confidently say that alcohol has had nothing to do with my AF.

[Finvola]

I think it may have played some part as I was an enthusiastic wine drinker all my life. I stopped all alcohol at diagnosis but tried alcohol-free wine a few times some months later - each time I had runs of palps and AF, so it was probably the sulfates which did it for me too rather than the alcohol.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

None, I barely drink maybe one quarter a glass of wine with a meal.

Be well

Ian

[seasider18 in reply to Beancounter]

A bottle must last you a long time!

[dedeottie]

I dont drink alcohol anymore. Im not sure if it was a trigger... just living seems to be my trigger!

I dont even drink pretend alcohol anymore as i dont like it. Non alcoholic ginger beer and elderflower cordial are my drinks of preference. I would be lying if i said i didnt miss it but i decided to give my poor liver a break as it has so many other toxins to deal with under the guise of meds! X

[Elaine1951 in reply to dedeottie]

That's what I felt with the AF that I didn't want to give my body anything avoidable to worry about!

[BobD Volunteer]

Binge drinking is known to be a cause of AF in younger people so there is a link there but for me even a tiny amount was always a trigger. Like Finvola I had the same affect with alcohol free beers and wines so rather than the alcohol it must be something in the distillation process. Alcohol free drinks are made in the same way and then have the alcohol removed with osmosis.

We are all different.

[Hidden]

Alcohol brings on my arrhythmia. I went tee-total about 4 years ago and feel better for it. Not just removed the immediate (middle of the night usually) trigger, but generally my body feels calmer/quieter.

I never binged but drank exactly the same amount, 2 large glasses of red wine, every evening. Now I drink the same amount of alcohol-free wine almost every evening, and occasionally alcohol-free beer. I enjoy both and do not have any effect on me. Marks & Sparks do some good stuff, and the alcohol free shop online has some really excellent brands.

Koll

PS There's another huge advantage of alcohol-free wine, you can swig your pills down with champagne

[Elaine1951 in reply to Hidden]

Looks like alcohol is a trigger for many people, thank you for responding

[checkmypulse]

Yes, one beer would often bring on AF, usually 4 hours or so later. Even a shandy would occasionally do it. Ok on non alco beer or cider. It's surprising how one gets used to the taste. Well I have. Haven't drunk 'properly' for several months now. Like Trevor my AF now seems to begin when relaxing or in bed.

[Barry24]

Hi Elaine,

Spoke to early, AF kicked in around 10am.

Doing nothing at the time, just sitting behind a computer, just did a chance pulse reading (wrist) which I do now and again during the day.

So it could have been the wine? Best leave it alone now.

Best Wishes

Barry

[Elaine1951 in reply to Barry24]

could well be , shame isn't it

[Stu13]

Alcohol was definitely the cause of me developing my AF five years ago. Basically my 50th Birthday is to blame, I drank a lot over a period of 4 days, on the fifth day AF kicked in, frightened the life out of me at the time. I was warned of binge drinking being a trigger and cut down, only to ruin it all by having a bit of a session on New Years eve, six months later and ended up this time in A&E on New Years day. After that I cut right down and researched alcohol free beers and wine (just can't drink soft drinks). Now mainly drink Becks Blue which I quite enjoy. I treat my self to the occasional real pint or two but no more than that. Downside, I still get PAF episodes definitely not alcohol related , probably stress. I was told initially that once you have an episode, no matter what the cause, you will be susceptible to AF for the rest of your life. Bonus is I've lost weight and not had a hangover for 5 years!

[Elaine1951]

Thanks, I was drinking wine most nights and had done for 30 plus years. I agree, the fright of AF stopped me in my tracks and I now drink occasional glass at some weekends. Feel much better for it. I think alcohol alters sleep patterns which affects the electrics in the body too but I'm not a medic.

[sportscoach]

Alcohol is a poison which disturbs this pacemaker system and causes the heart to beat too rapidly, or irregularly. There is also the yeast/fermentation and amount of gas in some drinks especially in lagers which can contribute to bloating in the stomach and result in vagal tone AF.

[Elaine1951 in reply to sportscoach]

Indeed

[Neil_69]

Hi ya , I don't drink at all and it still effects me , I can't seem to find the trigger I have noticed if I am stressed or angry it will come on

[MarkS]

When I was first diagnosed with AF I had been a moderate drinker (1-2 glasses p.d.) so I gave up alcohol for a month to see it it was a trigger but it had no impact.

I drink a glass a day now with a meal following a fairly Mediterranean diet of which the most important contribution to health is the red wine!

[seasider18 in reply to MarkS]

Are there any stats on AF in Mediterranean countries.

I always find it strange that France of all countries has dire warnings on bottles for its home market but not export.

[MarkS in reply to seasider18]

I haven't seen any stats on AF but there was an analysis of which elements of the Mediterranean diet reduced mortality the most. The 3 components which contributed the most were moderate alcohol consumption (one to five small glasses of wine per day), low consumption of meat and high consumption of vegetables.

See this medscape article: medscape.com/viewarticle/70...

[seasider18 in reply to MarkS]

I like the five small glasses a day.

A neurologist asked how much I drink. I said five glasses of wine a week. He put five glasses a day in his letter to my GP.

[MarkS in reply to seasider18]

Actually I've just found these trials, "Extravirgin olive oil consumption reduces risk of atrial fibrillation: the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial":

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/247...

and

"Does Mediterranean Diet Reduce Cardiovascular Events and Oxidative Stress in Atrial Fibrillation?":

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/258...

[seasider18 in reply to MarkS]

I don't mind the olive oil but I avoid nuts as they often take out a filling.

[Beta44]

Many years ago when nobody thought about hydration I drank little else other than black coffee all day and red wine in the evenings. I am sure that dehydration started my AF as the electrolyte balance is altered. I gave up alcohol for years but once the AF had started it gently progressed over the years until successful ablation last year. I now have the occasional glass of wine but generally find life better without it.

Peter

[heartmatters1]

I think everything in moderation. Hangovers are the worst thing ever - alcohol is very dehydrating which is a big no no for AF sufferers.

[Gertsen]

My AF does, I was in Napa Valley last Autumn and had rather over done the wine and had a horrible attack, I had had palpitations before but did not know it was AF, I was taken to the Emergency Room by ambulance, got back into SR in the ambulance but they did a full check and diagnosed AF at the hospital and gave be beta blockers and aspirin. The doctor called it a holiday heart. I now only have a couple of glasses at the weekend and that seems fine. Food also does it but I have not been able to figure out which foods. I am now on apixaban.

[RichMert]

Slight update to my previous post on the same subject. I came off of Bisoprolol 5 months ago since I was only taking it for the odd blip that happened anyway (every other month). I had a birthday celebration 3 weeks ago and drunk more than normal (4 pints). I have been paying the price since with 6-10 second runs of irregular or tachycardia at least once a day and whilst resting. Reluctantly I have just decided to start the Bisoprolol again because I know my Doctor will dismiss me with the same advice if I were to see him. (reluctantly because for me its side effect was momentary light head when I stood up).

I would therefore agree with others that responded to my post. It is a lottery whether the alcohol will effect you. I suspect that a number of things come together periodically and if alcohol is added at that time, wallop!

Sorry I cannot be more scientific, for me like others, it is a long learning curve and one size does not fit all.

[Patient007]

I usually stick to a couple of medium glasses of wine or a pint of beer after or with food.. I would not risk any more than that as I would worry it would react with the flecainide as well. ????

[Annekw]

I have a Gin and Tonic every evening before our evening meal,no AF complications,we also basically stick to a Mediterranean diet,it is helpful for Rheumatoid Disease also! (Good job we both like it!)

I don't drink much wine,mainly water.

[PALady]

I attribute my last serious AF episode to combination of alcohol and dehydration. It was only about 3 glasses of rose and maybe 1 large Pimms over the course of a summer evening with a meal. More than I would usually have drunk though, and apparently enough to qualify as a binge session. Seemed ok next day but it was very hot and noticed my ankles were very puffy. Almost collapsed when I got out of bed during that night. Heart very bumpy all next day. Went to A and E following day where ECG indicated still in AF. Reverted without treatment and discharged same day. Good thing was that this prompted a medication review and I was switched from aspirin to warfarin. I stopped all alcohol for a while but now seem to be ok with very occasional low proof drink. White wine Spitzer works for me.

[Evefay]

I had pericarditis January of 2013 and within 6 months everything heart related started. Bigiminy first, svt and then afib. I had to have a pacemaker for the bigiminy and I have not had but maybe 3 episodes of afib but I have svt very often. I would rather have the svt than the afib but I am sure the afib will return!

[djmnet]

In my experience, there's no way to prove or disprove. I have only had one or two episodes where I'd had a drink (or two) preceding it. I gave it up for a month or so, but no change in frequency or severity of episodes, so I decided to live my life and enjoy myself! (And I don't take ANY drugs for heart rate or irregular heartbeats.)

[Patches2]

I had my first AF when drinking a glass of wine. It probably only lasted less then 10 seconds, but I thought I was going to die! Still here a year later.

Natassa.

[yanbart]

Yes. Definitely.

[Flatlander]

After excessive alcohol consumption yes. That goes for excessive eating too. Generally the episodes related to eating and drinking excess are short.

Some drinks (alcoholic or not) also some times give me episodes. Red wine, light summer ales (not dark ones though?), any soft drink with sucralose in it. 

It's more likely to happen if I have exercised earlier that day (strenuous exercise is the main cause of my AF).