Good morning lovely people !! I have proximal AF . Usually 2 small , lasting 3 min episodes a month . And i drinking coffee every morning . And i am not sure if its good idea to have coffee for someone with AF . What is you opinion lovely people !!! Thanks Janna
Coffee and AF : Good morning lovely... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Coffee and AF
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Janna24
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Hello Janna, of course it’s the caffeine which concerns people. Caffeine is a stimulant, so can increase stress and anxiety levels which can contribute to AF. Ironically, at the very first AF Association Patients Day meeting I attended back in 2014, one of the speakers said that there was no real reason to avoid caffeine (there were audible gasps of disbelief from the audience) so I guess it’s up to the individual. Personally, I drink decaf coffee but if it’s not available then I drink normal and it’s never had any affect on me.
Janna24 in reply to
Thanks a lot
pusillanimous in reply to
I hedge my bets ! I only drink one mug of coffee after breakfast, I make it from half a teaspoon of decaf. half a teaspoon of a mild blend (both instant coffees) and, horror of horrors 2 teaspoons of coffee creamer. !!!The rest of the day I only drink water !
BobDVolunteer
There is no scientific evidence either way regarding coffee and AF though anecdotally it is a "bad thing". If you are lucky enough to prove that for you it is a trigger then fine but please don't obsess over it. That will definitly be a trigger.
Totally agree👍
Some people do know caffeine in coffee to be a trigger - someone who was at a surgery with the EP the same time as myself told me he had found out he got Af every Friday afternoon and put it down to him and his work colleagues treating them selves to a Costa for morning break every Friday. Another found that wine but not beer was a trigger. If you find you have a trigger then avoid that trigger if you can.
Thanks for you advice , i trying to do it , looks like its stress and coffee
depends on the coffee. Some but not all cannot take caffeine - fine for me as long as I Avoid dehydrated coffee, stick to freshly made, not stewed, coffee taken with a small amount of fat and the benefits way outweigh risks. Take before noon and stick to 1 cup - 2 maximum.
Proviso we all react differently. I could link you to a dozen studies which show caffeine and coffee has no affect on AF and a dozen more that show it does - very slightly.
Would the fat be a cream cake CD? 😂
oh how I wish……😄
Thanks , its cheerful news for me. I love coffee !!!
I love coffee too and drink it! I have the decaf versions. There's quite a choice. I have cut caffeine out but in all honesty the odd cup of coffee with caffeine in doesn't affect me. I wouldn't drink expresso and limit/avoid dark chocolate.... Both are full of caffeine. My heart gets upset. Y too much of the stuff...You will find your own balance.... but you don't have to exclude coffee.
Yes you are right !! Dark chocolate is upsetting my heart too!! I stop having it . It made my heart go to tachycardia !!!
My EP made a point of recommending a small piece of dark chocolate daily.
Why? It's full of caffeine. I can tolerate a little sometimes but not the level of dark chocolate....
If it triggers you, then it's a trigger. If not, not. My last Starbucks double expresso Latte was 60 seconds before a bad afib episode. Needless to say no double espresso latte's for me. I do, however drink weakish brewed or instant type coffee from time to time, often using just a half dose mixed with a half dose of decaf.
Jim
I was thinking try decaf !!!
Some very nice decafs out there, even with the instants. Tested blind, I'm sure many could not tell the difference.
Funny story, I was in Vermont years ago, known for it's country living and deserts among other things. Found this lovely little cafe overlooking the mountain. Table by the window. Red and white tablecloth, so country and lovely. I ordered the homemadeApple Pie. It came out, warmed from the oven and soft and the best Apple Pie I ever ate! So I complimented the waitress on their pie and how long they have been making it. She looked at me with a smile and said, "No, we don't make our own pies, It's a "Table Top" Apple Pie and then proudly showed me the box it came in. For those not familiar, Table Top is a popular supermarket brand of pie. Point being, it's sometimes all in the packaging. I think you will just love the instant decaf if you forget it's instant decaf. Just serve in a nice cup with silverware, etc. I've done so with guests and they all ask where do get my coffee 
Jim
Yes , you are right , i can trigger my brain to drink decaff👍and i going to do it , buying nice one , i think i just like smell of coffee in morning
This was in the back of my mind and recollected glossing over it one day but not reading it in depth;
The question was;
"Are there more than 1000 chemicals in a cup of coffee"?
"There are more than 1,000 chemical compounds in coffee, and their molecular and physiological effects are areas of active research in food chemistry".
So I would guess that the thing to remember is that not all coffees are the same and that coffee is not just coffee. I cannot drink Kenco coffee as it gives me a headache but I'm pretty much alright on most other coffees providing I drink in moderation ie (4) mugs a day🙄 and bottled water in-between. It is imo a case of finding out what is best for you.
Yes , agree and i desperate trying find one for me!!
I usually limit myself to to medium size cups of home brewed coffee with breakfast , I aim to never drink coffee after midday. Lately we’ve been buying Machu Pichu organic coffee as it’s been on offer with our online delivery & has a very lovely taste& doesn’t cause either of us problems.
When I was 1st diagnosed in 2018, I found the info here SO helpful, especially a link that was sent to articles Dr Sanjay Gupta, of York Cardiology . He gives great info on many things, including the Vagal nerve . That was a revelation for me. Helped me understand triggers better .I can’t remember who posted the link , think it was maybe Jeanneannie , CDreamer or Flapjack but I’m not sure. Will see if I can retrieve the article .
Many years ago, a neighbour of ours ,who was a Chemist , said he’d never drink de- caffeinated coffee due to the chemicals used in the process , he knew too much about them at the time !!
We’re all such different individuals, with many different triggers , but do try to avoid unnecessary stress wherever possible . This hot 🥵 weather has been a real challenge, trying to stay well hydrated .
Good luck finding what helps you best . I’ve found everyone here to be incredibly supportive
I stopped drinking coffee 6 years ago but still drink tea.
I did find that coffee made me feel bad particularly if it was strong.
We are all different. Try giving up and see what happens.
Pete
I will fry decaf tomorrow , and see you is going ...
I really missed my coffee at the beginning of my AF journey so I tried one cup with breakfast - no problems at all. I drink one breakfast cup of strength 4 freshly ground filtered beans, very hot - heaven.
The only way to know is to try it out.
Yes , exactly 👍
The answer is “it depends” 🙄
The only way is to experiment with a period of abstinence followed by a period of reintroduction and keep a strict record of your AF and your coffee consumption.
The problem will be correlating the incidence of AF with your coffee consumption, because AF is probably going to happen anyway. If you have any incidences of AF how will you know it’s the coffee? And how will you know it’s not coincidence/expected fluctuations in frequency?
I was advised to cut down on caffeine when I had a lot of ectopics. So I did. And my ectopics got worse and eventually I developed AF. So it didn’t work for me. What I’m left with is a sensitivity to caffeine. On the rare occasions I have a cup of caffeinated coffee it really upsets my sleep now. If anything, cutting out the coffee solved nothing and gave me a problem I didn’t have before. So, it was a lose-lose for me.
It may happens with me also. I guess AF no going anyway , if its no coffee it will be something else
when I was in hospital october past the nurses kept offering me coffee. I’m like are you sure I’m even allowed coffee with heart disease?! I was told by the nurses that if you have always been a coffee drinker then a few cups per day is never going to be an issue. When I met with a cardiac nurse after discharge she asked me about coffee intake and I said between 2-4 cups per day to which she replied to many. So now I’m confused. When I met my cardiologist I asked her and was told the same as the nurses in hospital which was if you have always drank it not a problem. If some1 suffering from arrhythmia had never drank coffee in their life then decided to have 2 double espressos in the space of an hour then they might have a problem. Decafe is an absolute no I’m my opinion. None of the health benefits of caffeinated tea or coffee but most importantly how do they remove the caffeine? By soaking the beans in solvent. Thus it becomes an ultra processed item that really is going to do more harm than good.
Very interesting , thank you for shearing you experience, i kind of imagine decaf its really bad for you . I think moderation is the answer for me . Just 1 normal coffee in morning!!!
It really depends if you know if it’s a ‘trigger’ or not…I would think that if it is, you’d go into Afib pretty soon after. It’s fortunately not a trigger for me, but I only have one in the morning. I drink it black and I have a pod machine ( Nespresso) so it’s quite strong. I do however have two pods, as they never fill a cup if I have a ‘measured’ dose so I always combine a ‘ normal’ coffee with one of their decafs ( just to be in the safe side)…the Nespresso decaf pods are water processed, not chemically processed, which I think makes a big difference. I can’t imagine not having a coffee in the morning 😊
As time went on caffeine definitely made my AF worse, as did alcohol & salt. Go decaf, find one you like as not all taste same, reduce salt and no alcohol helped immensely
Thank you, will do it !!
for me the coffee is not a trigger on its own however if I have a few coffees in the morning then go and exercise then it can bring on AF. I now make sure I only have one coffee but if I know I’m exercising after then I’ll drink decaf beforehand
Make sence !
Hi Janna, I’m the same as FlapJack. I drink decaf at home but will have normal coffee from time to time if there’s not a decaf option. It seems to have no bearing on my AF episodes
Lucky you !!! You can enjoy you coffee!
Iv never had any problems drinking coffee. As far as I’m aware a coffee session has never brought on an episode of AFIB for me. The only time I have ever noticed a reaction was when I drank a small glass of coffee in Morocco and my heart rate did increase for while after.!! It was very strong and bitter 😳
Drink decaffienated
I now have decaf tea and decaf coke. Caffein is a known trigger of af.
So are artificial sweeteners, which coke is chock full of.
I'm in permanent AF (my heartbeat I describe as 1, 2, miss a few..... 45678, 9 , 10😆) and it appears hereditary as my father had it as does my daughter. My father always had a cup or two per day, I limit myself to a cup (4 shots espresso, so kinda strong!) as does my Doctor daughter. If I have a few per day, I may feel an effect, otherwise it's just business as usual. But when I was first diagnosed age 22 (I'm now coming up to 61), coffee seemed to have caused my AF for me - but I was feeling awful at the time (Had a dose of the Flu) and dosing myself on mega amounts of caffeine to keep me going at work as a warehouse manager at the time as we were in a very busy period and I had other staff off sick already. So the caffeine probably contributed to my condition becoming apparent, but was always there in the background (doctors had said that I had a "heart murmur" aged 9).
So I guess the upshot is that caffeine may have an effect on some people, but not necessarily detrimental effects on everyone in reasonable doses. It's really an individual's tolerance that will determine what effect it may have.
Thanks for you replay . Was very interesting know about you history of AF . You got in very young age . But you managing it true. I always wondering if i can live long with this condition , and looks like people live with it mostly of they lives !
Life is too short to avoid good coffee.
Drink decaf. Caffeine raises the heart rate. Tea and brown chocolate and coke also have caffeine. Caffeine definitely triggered me. But everyone is individual. I was in a restaurant after my ablation, asked for decaf, they mistakenly gave me normal tea. It raised my resting heart rate by about ten bpm. I was not happy.
I have no problem drinking coffee in fact it helps
I tried decaf for a few years - but it didn't have the right level of "interest" so I went back to caffeine - One or two cups a day at first - Now I tend to 6-8 per day no obvious triggers. I drink wine too - because it's compulsory where I live. Just try everything to see what effect it has - I find eating is a more significant trigger because of the "wind" in the gut - but that's another story.
I do take daily Flecanide (slow release)
I have to give up wine from beginning of my AF journey . But i hope a in future i can have glass or 2 . I really miss it
I drink an occasional cappuccino when I go out. As far as alcohol I did cut out for a long while, but have found one glass of Prosecco or even maybe two occasionally seem to be tolerated and fine. Also again occasionally a gin and tonic
I used to like a whisky and ginger ale, but haven’t tried that and not sure I will
I hope in future i can have a glass or 2 white wine . I really miss my glass of wine
hi again Janna. I don’t think I could have ordinary white or red wine (although I used to liked smooth and creamy red wine). It just seems that the occasional Prosecco or gin and tonic is ok. I did go tee total for a few years, but I missed the slight buzz of a “real” drink eith everyone. I did manage a glass of mulled wine at Christmas but only to say cheers
Good luck and stay well or as well as we all can be
There's a deal of evidence that coffee is not a trigger and likely good for the heart, too. There's also little evidence that for most sufferers' triggers can be identified at all, even though it can easily come to occupy their minds like little else. All I can think that affects me are a) dates of the month with the numbers 1-9 in them, b) days of the week with the letter "d" in them and c) being born with a mother who was forever complaining about her "palpitations" without ever being diagnosed.
There's is, however, one scientifically agreed way to avoid AF and that is not to have your heart inside a body that is a) overweight, b) lethargic, c) sleeps badly and, d) has high blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid issues.
Once the heart has changed to one that becomes arrhythmic, then it seems that it often won't easily change back. There is some evidence, however, that a larger body makes for a larger heart and that makes it more prone to AF so getting weight right down, hard as that is, could be the best of all things to change.
Steve
So true , my AF began when i put weight on ...
I read a study that looked at how heart cells can become “stretched” by various means, including excess weight (which naturally enlarged the heart, apparently). And as soon as they do, they become prone to arrhythmias. Weird indeed as the heart is attached to the chest wall and is pulled and pushed by many normal bodily movements as well as when the stomach is full or windy. I feel that that’s a possible trigger for me (e.g. stretching and squatting).
Steve
I use a Keurig every morning. Then gym and an iced coffee on the way to work. I usually bring a Starbucks instant dark roast to top off my iced coffee. My HR monitor at work sits at 50bpm all day (unless Il leave my office and walk around the warehouse)Coffee simply does not bother my heart. Thank God. It is my only vice
Everybody here is taking different meds and has their own unique triggers. Crazy! The whole thing is fascinating as heck when you read others' posts. We all have one thing in common, but our experiences are so vastly different.
Trial and error with coffee, maybe try decaffeinated with water (I believe you can buy that option) rather than chemicals.
Advance all your efforts to improve lifestyle choices across the board now, in particular grasp the nettle on stress, as you are at a stage where you could stop AF by these measures alone.
My personal theory is the AF trigger for most people is not one action (eg a coffee) but an accumulation of actions, so IMHO don't try to identify one trigger but take action on all possibles across the board.
To illustrate what I mean.....if you have a normal day a coffee before 1pm will have no effect but if you have a lot of negatives on your mind (stress), possibly eat junk food and then have a coffee at the same time, you may get an AF episode and think the culprit was the coffee. I hope that makes sense.
I am not sure what the proximal one is but fortunately, I had stopped having coffee some time before I was diagnosed with the paroxysmal kind and told to cut down on it as well as alcohol where as I didn’t have much, I became teetotal!
Of course its paroxysmal, sorry , english not my first language. I doing silly mistakes, but i deferment to learn it better!!!!thanks for you kind replay
I love your English errors! They are quite fun! Where are you from?
I from Latvia . Use to be former USSR republic . My native language is latvian and russian
My family came from thereabouts - grandparents, that is. I visited Lithuania briefly during a student tour of the Soviet Union including Warsaw, Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev and Prague. I learnt a little Russian before the trip which was very useful but have forgotten most of it as it well over 50 years ago now!
You can visit Latvia again!! Its really nice now and safe . People still speck russian, so you can remind yourself...
No I can’t! I am 79 and have chronic fatigue! We did the entire journey by train (and boat across the channel) and I certainly wouldn’t be up to that now and haven’t flown for many years and certainly wouldn’t now!
Sorry to hear you have some health issues . At least you did travel , good memory , they cherish us . And we have some good travel channels on Sky to watch 👍👍👍
I have been effected by it also, I now drink half decaf half full, I use a bean to cup machine that makes it easier. I don’t drink coffee outside my home really.
Personally I avoid caffeine all the time. I had been in NSR for a year and accidently drsnk a caffeinated coffee. Within hours I was in A&E with arrhythmia and HR over 200. My arrhythmia lasted months until I had another cardioversion. I double check now that every drink I have is decaff.
So sorry you had scary experience ! At least now you know what you can have without trouble
Gosh! Heart rate over 200! Is that a record!
Hi Janna24,It was not caffeine which caused episodes but the coffee itself. I can drink caffeine in other forms, like tea and cola, without it having any effect on my AF. When I drank decaff coffee, thinking it was caffeine which caused episodes, I'd still get episodes. So I haven't drank coffee for the last 16 years.
In a similar way I found soy, and miso, appeared to cause AF episodes, so they're no longer part of my diet.
Decaff, some are very good, is the answer
Hmm good one this one, life without coffee = yuk , life with coffee not sure. However I have done a study, and instant coffee affects my AF, and ground beans, and carafe affects my AF, however, Tassimo pods do not. So work that one out .
Yes, life without coffee is bad life ..its so true . Yes, i trying work it out how to manage it ...😊
Life without drugs is NOT a bad life! Caffeine is a drug... important to remember, it's just another stimulant, like many drugs are! If you are able to break your addiction, which is what it very well might literally be, you will likely find that you have much more energy than you've ever had! Fact: "Consuming too much caffeine can lead to jitteriness, anxiety, heart palpitations and even exacerbated panic attacks." Not a good thing for those with afib, and which far outweighs the possible benefits of it.
I have PAF, coffee doesn’t seem to trigger me thankfully as it is one of my daily pleasures. But I do limit myself to one or two cups a day of double espresso based latte. Can’t stand instant coffee and avoid filter coffee as that gives me too much of a caffeine hit, I can feel my heart rate rising (but not AF) I don’t really drink alcohol anymore, but have found my trigger seems to be hard exercise or dehydration so now just go easy on that and coffee and exercise are not a good mix.
hi janna. I drink proper filter coffee. Instant coffee no! It aggravates my AF.
No problem for me if I have one or two cups a day.
I’m sure someone here will be able to give some details, but I’m fairly sure there was a study a few years back that indicated caffeine was actually NOT a trigger for AF…🤷🏻♂️. Anyway, I am drinking my daily cup as I write this. Never seems to be a problem for me.
I have AF and I have been told that I can drink tea and coffee provided it's decaffeinated. I can't taste any difference
I remember when I was first diagnosed with Afib. While I was in the Hospital, I was served, and was drinking a cup of coffee. The attending cardiologist, whisked away my cup and told me "no more of this for you ever!". That was over ten years ago. I drank decaf up until two years ago, when I read a report that said caffeine had absolutely no effect on Afib. I experimented, half and half at first, no problem. Then I had my first cup of caffeinated Coffee, also no problem. I now have up to three cups of very strong coffee ( is there any other kind, here in Europe? ) I have had absolutely no problems. I then experimented with Chocolate. No problem either! Although I avoid eating large amounts. I once again have the occasional Coca Cola, also without any problems. I took flecainide daily for over ten years. Just recently my German Cardiologist, told me to stop taking it. He said I had not had one episode in over four years. He told me I could take it as a pill in the pocket as needed. I have been off the stuff for almost a year now, and have not had one Afib episode!
Well done , looks like you AF well controlled!!! I take flecainide as PIP , and its always helps me
I’ve been taking Flecainide regularly for a while now and only had a few episodes when I had a bout of otherwise symptomless covid (and a new make of the stuff). I wonder if I’ll live long enough to come off it safely as you have done! Well done you!!
But i never took it regularly. I always took it like a PIP . I think PIP works for me better than every day use. I am sure you be fine after stop taking it every day
Doing my studying on all things AF and listening to all these fine people on this forum, AF is such a maniacal condition and so individual that one can’t really know except what your own experience is. Personally, I think many of us that have AF are high strung types and too much caffeine is not good. I do enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and 1 in the afternoon but not too late.
I also have come out of an AF episode while having a cup of coffee which I thought odd, until someone on this forum said, what makes you go into AF while also bring you out of AF.
Still I am careful to always be moderate in everything. I do know chemicals for me is a big trigger, so I stay away from anything artificial.
I one time asked my husband to bring home some half and half. He brings home fat free. When reading the label it was a “chemical shit storm” I had to take it back to the store and get the organic half and half. When returning the one my husband got, I told the lady my husband is trying to kill me. Yes, a little dramatic on my part. My point is, if a person doesn’t have this beast called AF, they don’t understand at all or our triggers.
Totally agree i cant have anything with chemicals anymore. I try it naturally since i have AF !! When i was living without AF i eat and drink what i like !! Sadly now is different life for me , and sometime my friends and colleagues don't get me ! They think iam too picky
exactly, they don’t understand at all. Especially when someone treats me to a sugary, chemically, special drink and I have to refuse it. Ugh! We were in Myrtle Beach with family last sept and I have in to one of those and sure enough a few hours later AF.
Yes its really annoying . I went to birthday party , and everyone was asking why i am not drinking alcohol . I feel really uncomfortable , and have to lie to them , i taking antibiotics. Just dont feel explain to people aboutmy heart problems
I felt that way at first, now I just say that certain things short circuits my electrical system so I stay away. If they ask more I can explain but like you I don’t want to be talking at length about health issues. I want to keep a positive, even my dr had to admit I am healthy for being 73.
Exactly , positive attitude helping me move forwards , helping me deal with AF, and i dont want people feel sorry for me . Well done for having great attitude , and keep yourself healthy and positive!!!
Your afib is mild... so bottom line, NOW is the time to start doing the things that can help to combat the possible (or likely) progression of it. Caffeine is a drug, important to understand. Everyone processes caffeine differently, and the same with afib... there are different triggers that affect people differently. So whether or not caffeine is a trigger for you is up to you to figure out to some extent, by trial ands error. But I'm pretty sure it doesn't help ANYONE with afib! It's not just the "stress and anxiety" caused by caffeine, but any stimulant directly affects the electrical system that controls the beating of your heart, so I would strongly recommend starting now to wean yourself off caffeine, or at the very least to cut down to a small amount. Afib is normally progressive, and the things you do to yourself now, ie.alcohol, caffeine, heavy foods leading to being over-weight which leads to other problems... all these things can make your afib worse so the sooner you start fighting it the better for you! (FYI It was tough for me to cut these things, but there are silver linings...such as I've found that coffee doesn't really give me energy, but it saps it...and now that I'm off it I have MUCH more energy than I used to have). Trust me, the more pro-active you are now will make your life with afib MUCH better in the long run!
Studies show that coffee drunk in a reasonable amount doesn’t generally affect AF.
See: webmd.com/heart-disease/atr....
The article even states that the Journal of the American College of Cardiology says that regularly having up to 300 milligrams of caffeine a day should be safe and may even protect against heart arrhythmias.
If you do find coffee causes you problems, the best tasting Decaff is that which is made using the Swiss water process. If you are in the UK Raw Bean coffee is very good, but is a bit more expensive than ordinary Decaff.
Thanks for you advice, i going to have a look now
This study suggests green tea may help prevent AF:
I am fairly new here. What is 'proximal' AF? Is it autocorrect for 'paroxysmal', or is this another term I need to familiarise myself with?
It is proximal !!!! Its just my poor english , sorry
I am still confused. I don't know what proximal AF is. 😟
Its proxymal AF !!! Sorry i just spell it wrong
Janna, it's generally considered bad form to correct people's spelling on this forum, so I promise this is purely to clear up Letofeyd's query; you have Paroxysmal AF. 'Proximal' means 'close to' and has no relevance to cardiac arrythmias. A 'paroxysm' is a sudden onset of a condition or disease, hence Paroxysmal AF.
I did not correct anyone . It was my genuine mistake . My english is bad. I do a lot of spelling mistakes . But i a learning to be better. That's all . I am not trying to be bad
I didn't accuse you of correcting anyone Janna. I was simply explaining that I was clarifying the difference between the two medical terms to help the thread, not to be a pedantic smartarse!
I was definitely not being critical in any way and you have my best wishes. I think your English is very good, and as someone who has no second language I'm in no position to criticise anyway!
I have organic decaf and it tastes delicious. The great thing is in giving up as much caffeine as possible, I'm not as jittery and sleep much better which I would think is good for my AF. I really don't miss a jolt of caffeine and appreciate not feeling wired.
I stopped coffee for about a year as it seemed to be triggering regular morning/after breakfast afib episodes. (PAF). November 2022 I started on Metoprolol 25mg 2 x day and flecainide. As of March 5, 2023 I have not had a single afib episode ( was getting them Almost every day) and I gradually reintroduced coffee to now having about 2/3 cup every morning. Still no afib. Actually I found it slightly increased resting heart rate which was in 40s. A few weeks ago doc lowered metoprolol to only one 25 mg at night and also recommended B12 and that combination has increased resting HR into an acceptable zone, (low 50s), reduced fatigue significantly and still no afib or problems with flecainide.
Bottom line- we are all different but it can be worth experimenting. I do feel the caffeine was contributing to episodes, but once the afib has been managed it’s not a problem. . I drink pour over coffee from freshly ground coffee beans we buy online to ensure recent roasting and make it strong. As you can imagine, I’m now a happy camper 😊
My heart doctor said Decaf and no Caffeine ! It helps me a lot with no caffeine!
Lots of good advice above.I'll just add everyone is different , what's pleasure for some is poison for others and coffee , either caffeinated or decaf , us one of those things for people with AF.
The best way to work out if it's your trigger is to reduce off it over a week and not drink any coffee , even decaf , for another week and see if things change.
After the two weeks , try just having one small coffee a day of caffeinated coffee and see if it causes symptoms , then it's your trigger . If it doesn't you know you are fine with your usual brew in small amounts and don't miss out.
If it triggers it , try going without for a few days again then try decaf.
One thing I will say is that it isn't always the caffeine that is the trigger of symptoms from a cup of coffee , if you also drink black or green tea with no problem it's not likely to be caffeine but the fact that your coffee could be causing you more stomach acid if you drink it black or strong. The stomach acid can be a common trigger for peoples AF , it can also cause palpitations and sharp chest pain. In that case , neither caffeinated or decaf will work for someone.
Sometimes it's is not the coffee or caffeine but it can be what you put in it if you use sugar or sweeteners or creamers which are sugary , for the same reason the heart burn from stomach acid can be the trigger. So just remove the sugar or creamer and have it black or with milk instead.
In many cases , there is still a possibility to manage a cup of Jo a day , just have it with or after a meal that includes food that can settle the stomach like live yoghurt or oats , which are great at breakfast when you usually want a coffee anyway. It's worth trying out things before giving up the chance of drinking coffee entirely.
My AF get worse without my fresh brew , so it just goes to show , enjoy experimenting , Bee
Thank you Bee for such amazing replay and helpful advice . You replay open my eyes , so grateful you took you time and effort to help me !! Good luck in you journey to recovery !
Good afternoon, Janna24 and everybody, coffee addict or not! In my case, coffee is not a trigger but just the contrary: without coffee I am more prone to have AF. And I tested this hypothesis on several occasions. Also, I am sure that coffee helps the hearth rhythm to be back to normal. When I am under stress (physical or psychological) and I feel the first signals that an AF episode will begin (a lot of ectopic beats), I stop everything and go to search for a coffee. Coffee makes me more alert and more resilient. I did some tests with and without coffee. I stopped drinking coffee during 15 or 20 days a couple of times and, on these occasions my AF became more frequent. I have paroxysmal AF since 2015. Episodes varying from 5 minutes to 3 hours. Now my AF practically disappeared. And today I drink a lot of coffee, Brazilian strong coffee, without sugar or sweetener. My AF trigger, believe it or not, is beer. I am more sensitive to certain brands of beer. I may be “allergic” to some beer sugar or preservative. But I can drink distilled beverages, with no effect to my heart rhythm. Now I am almost one year without a single AF episode. And I still have a lot of strong of coffee.
Please, take this information with a grain of prudence since this is my experience, with my body and my mind. Caffeine does not cause me AF, but the lack of caffeine makes me more prone to have paroxysmal AF. I feel that in my case AF begins with an unbalance between external stress and internal response to stress. Caffeine may improve my ability to act in face of an external demand. This is my experience; and please, excuse me for my bad English. I love you all.
I have a small latte everyday with no problem. Also, have small amount of dark chocolate. Aged cheese and too much sugar seems to be triggers for me.
Sitting at my home desk, feeling the best I have today. Pleasantly relaxed. Just climbed the stairs and finished a strong double espresso.
Went out earlier for a walk, and saw HR reach 200.
HR has now dropped to 67. A lot of the time it is over 100 - even when just sitting, as now.
This is far from the first time coffee seems to have had this sort of effect.
We are all different.
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