Over time, alcohol use and its effect on Afib has been a point of discussion on this forum. Below is a link to a 2020 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which addresses this topic. The conclusions are fairly clear:
CONCLUSIONS
Abstinence from alcohol reduced arrhythmia recurrences in regular drinkers with atrial fibrillation.
From personal experience I would agree with this view.
Pete
Stands back in total amazement! What have I been saying for years? Duh!
I haven't had a drink in a couple of years so no dog in this fight.
That said, the study headline "Alcohol Abstinence" is a bit misleading, and is always the case, with any study, the devil is in the details.
First, they are not talking about total abstinence in the control group, but rather 2.1±3.7 drinks per week with 10g of alcohol constituting a drink. Not a lot of alcohol but still a drink now and then.
If I ever get off some of these drugs, which for me don't mix very well with alcohol, wouldn't mind getting back to a beer on occasion.
Jim
EDIT: If you expand the tabs you'll find this. Thanks "Momist" for pointing that out. CAPS mine.
"Complete abstinence may increase the risk of these (cardiovascular) events, and this study was underpowered to determine the effect on cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, or mortality. Thus, POTENTIAL CARDIOVASCULAR BENEFITS OF MODEST ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION MUST BE RECONCILED WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ATRIAL PRO-ARRHYTHMIA."
So the issue of alcohol consumption and the heart is not exactly cut and dry, may even be beneficial. Key word is MODEST in terms of alcohol consumption.
Jim
Alcohol abstinence is simply the title of the study perhaps to get attention. However, in the details it appears as though dramatically Reducing alcohol consumption is beneficial. I’m kind of in your camp, regarding an occasional drink, for me it’s wine. I’ve had a half a glass of wine three or four times since my ablation in January -with no issues- and would like to continue to occasionally drink wine. However, if I err it will be on the side of caution.Appreciate your reply
Yes and they also didn't compare the afib burden of what they call abstinence (the occasional drink) with true abstinence. They might even have found out that the occasional drink group had less of an afib burden over the true abstinence group, as some studies suggest very moderate drinking (like your red wine) has certain health benefit over not drinking at all. Unfortunately, the closest I've gotten to beer these days is ginger beer and I'm out now, so think I'll go have a ginger ale after I de-fizz it as the carbonation is bad for my GERD. LOL.
Jim
What’s a regular drinker? I guess the study answers that somewhere but not reading it as my opinion is that the odd or even fairly regular single drink is ok if it doesn’t affect your AF and not planning to change that opinion. It’s up to the individual to experiment if they feel strongly that they’d like an alcoholic drink sometimes.
Agree with you Buffafly. To many an occasional glass or two of wine or beer is one of lifes pleasures and why not if it doesn't appear to affect your AF.
It's easy for those who have no taste or yearn for an alcoholic drink to favour complete abstinence.
My husband has been in permanent AF ( anticoagulated) for about 2/3 years but is completely unaware of it. I can't imagine what his life would be like....nor mine 😂 ......without him being able to enjoy a few drinks with friends! Unfortunately , or maybe fortunately, I can rarely tolerate an alcoholic drink !
😬
Never drank alcohol, still got AF!
Thanks for the reference to this interesting study, much appreciated.
Due to a discovery of NAFLD which has progressed to cirrhosis I abstained from alcohol 4.5 years ago. However my AF has infact got worse and I've had 3 major episodes this year which equals the number I've had in the previous 5 years so with no details to this study I am sceptical. However I will say that reducing your intake of alcohol will always be a good idea.
Thank you. I have never drank much but like the odd tipple and seem to get away with it. However I have a prob with b12 & have to self inject for that.....& alchohol drain b12 from the body so its a double no for me. So very rarely drink these days.
I have to confirm that this is absolutely true, in my personal view, though I very much miss my daily tipple. In fact, I blame my stroke two years ago on consuming alcohol at lunch time when I was suffering from AF quite badly. I mistakenly thought it might calm me down! And I thought a little wine with a meal with a 'good idea'.
Yes - didn't think it did so had a few drinks this weekend. Yesterday was a nightmare with multiple AFib episodes all be it mild and short in duration. Back to abstinence for me!
I have drunk very little for about a year and it's made no different to my AF...which is persistent. My cardiologist tells me it makes little difference once you are in AF. I'm not sure about that but I think what he's saying is that the research seems to focus on alcohol triggering AF as opposed to the effects of alcohol on people already in AF.I think there is plenty of scope for more research in this area and is also a personal choice as well as effecting everybody slightly differently. It's never been a significant trigger for me.
I quite liked this paragraph :
"Epidemiologic studies suggest that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower incidence, in a U-shaped pattern, of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events.27,28 Complete abstinence may increase the risk of these events, and this study was underpowered to determine the effect on cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, or mortality. Thus, potential cardiovascular benefits of modest alcohol consumption must be reconciled with the potential for atrial proarrhythmia."
Fascinating study though, and I can't disagree with the recommendation NOT do consume alcohol regularly.
Beer was definitely a trigger for my AF. 4 hours or so after a drink there was a regular AF event which could last up to 72 hours. Even when mixed 50/50 with lemonade it could set me off.
As someone with mild persistent afib (HR around 75-85), I have no worry about "triggering" AF with a cocktail or two, nor did it ever trigger an afib episode before I became persistent.
I can have a small drink provided I offset that with plenty of regular fluids and decent sleep. But to be honest aside from a wedding this year and a couple of whiskeys in an evening I've not had a proper drink for a while because I know it's going to make me feel rough. Just not worth it.
In Australia we have many no-alcohol alternatives that taste very much like the real thing, I now can have my no-alcohol rum and coke on a Friday - bliss!! The company I order from is sansdrinks.com.au
Hi It's good to hear from someone down under. Having never visited your beautiful country I was wondering if you are able to get becks blue or heineken 0.0 as they are both authentic tasting beers but with zero alcohol. I'm not sure on the attitude towards these beers but like most people I live a cold beer on a hot afternoon or when out socially so I have found these to be acceptable in taste and also acceptable socially as well. We'll here in UK they seem to be Good luck
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