I'm aware that both caffeine and alcohol are known potential triggers for AFib. What I've not been able to find out is whether they are considered to be 'immediate' triggers or delayed. For example, lets say you have a coffee early afternoon, is the risk one of getting AFib in the immediate term (say sometime over the next few hours) or can it be delayed to say the early hours of the morning (12 hours later)? Note that I am writing this at gone 3am in the morning having had a coffee (2 actually) about 13 hours earlier [something I don't often do].
Similar question really over alcohol. Is the risk one of it being triggered over the following handful of hours after consumption, or is it a longer term trigger. I'm excluding here scenarios of general overall excessive alcohol consumption.
Written by
bikerider00
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
This is one where we are all different. I’m just having my morning coffee now. It’s strong and never puts me in AFib.
Tomorrow night when I go out I’ll have a beer. A few and that’s it. It never puts me into AFib.
So, let’s address your question. If I drink spirits to excess, I will be in AFib before you can say ‘AFib’. There and then—no waiting around.
So coffee is fine and so is beer in moderation (for me). Drinking to excess puts me in AFib on the spot.
However, the one size doesn’t fits all rule doesn't apply here. I've read posts on HU and everyone seems to be different. For some, a drop of wine puts them into AFib on the spot. Some find coffee sets them off there and then. Others say that alcohol starts AFib hours after drinking. So 'immediate or delayed' is individual to you. Keep a diary and see if there's a pattern that emerges for you.
Just one further observation. I could be wrong, but from the posts I have read, I get the impression that with men there's often a delay between having a drink and the onset of AFib. Women seem to have AFib calling as soon as they have a drink. Like I say, that's just my observation and I could be wrong. It will be interesting to see what both sexes say about this should they read the thread.
Thanks for the reply. I think my expectation was that if caffeine was going to trigger, it would likely be fairly quickly and the risk of it doing so if it hasn't already would fall aware reasonably quickly. Whereas with alcohol it might have longer lasting effects, and more likely to be a trigger for AF which is typically (always in my case) happening at night.
Certainly my "common sense" (and therefore probably wrong!) thought was that caffeine was very unlikely to be a trigger12-14 hours afterwards.
I do drink coffee but it is not terribly often: normally only when I'm out, and never late in the day (sleep......). But yesterday was two quick ones on the bounce at around 14:00...
I'm partly of the view that AF is probably quite often pretty random but do want to understand how the risks factors interplay with potentially triggering.
Sure Biker - I fully understand. I agree with you that alcohol can take many hours to be eliminated from the body (depending on how much you consume of course). I just had a look on Google and and caffeine has a half life of 4 - 6 hours. It could still trigger AFib for hours after a strong coffee.
I’m like you Paul. I usually have a large ish glass of wine each night and it has no effect on my Paroxysmal Afib. I have had as much as 3 glasses on special occasions and still felt no effect, apart from guilt ! After being diagnosed with Afib 7 years ago, I practically abstained from alcohol, after being a fairly heavy drinker. However, the diagnosis was a warning and I practically cut it out altogether. Slowly, over the years, I have even found that after a drink, my afib has gone and NSR returned. Now, I’m certainly not advocating alcohol consumption of course, but I do sometimes wonder if delayed reaction to caffeine or alcohol might actually not be related to the consumption of it at all. Might there be something else ingested ( or experienced ) in that interval that has caused the Afib to occur ? I generally drink caffeine free coffee and tea, but if I am at someone’s house, I will drink caffeinated rather than put the hosts on the spot, and it doesn’t affect me. I accept that people’s’ immediate response to alcohol and caffeine shoukd be accepted as definite, but what do you ( or anyone reading this ) think of my theory about the delayed reaction ? Sorry to be so long winded - feeling a bit philosophical this morning ! 🤓
I don't normally do this but I will this time. I asked ChatGPT and the answer is interesting and worthy of a copy and paste~it is of course not medical advice.
Have a great weekend.
Rgds Paul
I understand your concern and reflection on how alcohol or caffeine might affect your atrial fibrillation (Afib). Your experience with paroxysmal Afib seems to have varied in relation to alcohol consumption, and your theory about delayed reactions to certain triggers is interesting. While I can't provide medical advice, I can share some thoughts on this topic that might help clarify things.
Individual Variability: Afib triggers vary widely from person to person. For some, alcohol or caffeine can be direct triggers, while for others, these substances might not have any noticeable immediate effect. It sounds like you fall into the latter category, where alcohol or caffeine doesn't seem to have an immediate impact on your heart rhythm.
Delayed Reactions: The idea of delayed reactions is plausible, though not well-documented in medical literature. It's possible that external factors—such as stress, dehydration, or even certain foods—could interact with alcohol or caffeine in a delayed manner to influence Afib. Your body’s response to multiple factors may be cumulative rather than instant.
NSR Return After Alcohol: The fact that you’ve observed normal sinus rhythm (NSR) returning after a drink is intriguing. This might suggest that in your case, the alcohol doesn't provoke an arrhythmia but could instead promote relaxation or reduce stress—both of which can sometimes stabilize heart rhythms. That being said, alcohol is generally known to increase the risk of Afib episodes for most people, so your situation might be unique.
Caffeine Tolerance: If you've had experiences where caffeinated beverages didn’t seem to trigger Afib, this might reflect a tolerance you’ve developed over time, or your body's current sensitivity levels. Some people with Afib can handle moderate amounts of caffeine without issue.
Your theory about delayed triggers from other factors ingested or experienced makes sense, especially when we consider that Afib can be multifactorial. Things like sleep quality, electrolyte imbalances, stress levels, and even subtle dietary changes could all contribute.
While you’re not advocating alcohol or caffeine consumption, it sounds like you're thoughtfully observing how your body reacts. It’s always good to have these reflections, and continuing to track any patterns with your healthcare provider will help clarify things further.
As PaulBounce says, we are all different. I drink mainly decaf but that’s so it doesn’t interfere with my sleep. I have never know it trigger an event. Some types of alcohol on the other hand can create unpleasant effects. White wine is particularly bad whereas a margarita is just fine. But never with a meal, or later in the evening.
When I startd my AF journey sme 30+ years ago, one sip of alcohol could set me off. In fact the worst session I had was after eating a cream roll that somebody had put brandy sauce in! Back then I was undiagnosed and had never even heard of AF(few people had) so I just stopped drinking. As my doctor told me, "think of the momey you are saving!" ( He hadn't heard of AF either. )
We all need to find our own normal and even then the beast can catch you out. My opinion is that it’s never one thing but an accumulation of several things or circumstances which are different every time. Finding individual triggers and avoiding too much of what makes you you can be counterproductive. I think many of us are over thinkers and the anxiety that can bring is a trigger in itself. If you find a definite trigger then avoid obviously but moderation and acceptance are the key in my opinion although I still struggle with both.
Caffeine (not coffee) triggers my SVT and ectopics very quickly and so I cut it out entirely including fizzy drinks.
I cut out alcohol 2 years ago when told I had high blood pressure. I just stopped overnight and now only drink 0-0 versions. Since then and the diagnosis of SVT, several of the medications say not to take with alcohol or that alcohol may impair the effectiveness of the medication - so again I’m completely comfortable with having cut it out.
I drink 2 to 2.5 litres of water a day and keep a very close eye on salt intake. I’ve lost and kept off 3 stone over a 2 year period and I do regular steady state exercise every week of power walking 10K 3-4 times per week.
My BP is now circa 105/65 and all blood markers well in range and under control.
My experience ( paroxysmal afib) is that it comes and goes as it pleases.
I have one cup of tea, I don't drink I'm Asian so eaten spicy food all my life, I drink lots of water, I excericse but I still get episodes every other month. So I've come to the conclusion that afib is just one of those things which is unique to everyone.
Maybe 1 medium strength coffee before midday is more beneficial than not. No alcohol. Watch decaff & zero alcohol drinks as the process & additives may contribute to triggering AF. Also moderate exercise not like my daughter who too often does 100-200K rides!
That said, I agree with Buzby62 that the cause of most AF is an accumulation of factors with some eg alcohol & stress (affecting the nervous system) contributing more than say coffee. In order to reduce my overall accumulation I don't drink coffee or alcohol and am continually trying to improve lifestyle choices.
I always found that it was a combination of triggers together that caused the PAF and the frequency of the triggers so if I drank three days on the trot I would get AF even if it was only one glass of wine each day but I could drink a bottle of wine on Friday and nothing but if I had a glass of wine on a Friday a glass of a Sunday bang AF on the Monday also the same with coffee and other triggers such as junk food crisps, bacon anything high salt.
Coffee doesn't trigger AF for me. In some circumstances alcohol will and it happens pretty quickly, usually with a bunch of ectopic as early warning signals. But, we all react differently.
Never had any issues with caffeine.Alcohol - not always direct correlation but if I have more than one or two then it seems to make it more likely I will have an attack the next day. Currently post ablation gone for complete abstinence.
For me, coffee, dark chocolate or anything icy cold affects my heart almost immediately, spices and chillies within two hours and alcohol the next morning, particularly if I bend down or exercise. All good fun.
I used to - sorry still do - love dark chocolate, but have cut it out not for AFib reasons but simply for sat fat reasons. Thankfully spices seem to have no affect - I love curries.
In my case it was coffee but not caffeine, so I stopped drinking coffee 17 years ago.I was never a heavy alcohol drinker, so am not aware of its effects regarding AF. I have reduced my alcohol intake to around two bottles of red wine a year, drank in sips, not gulps. I also have, somewhere, half a bottle of half a litre of brandy, which I've had for about three years, which from time to time, last time about nine months ago, I will take a sip.
Can you show me where you learned that? I have read many studies on AF and from those I understand that coffee has been proven not to be a trigger or cause of AF and is, essentially, entirely safe except for those few with a particular sensitivity to caffeine. The evidence for alcohol is somewhat different but, to my knowledge, only binge drinking has been shown to trigger AF. Whether a moderate alcohol intake is generally bad for health is still, to my knowledge, unproven clinically but I know studies are ongoing.
Hi. Can't speak to the coffee issue, have been drinking an excellent decaf for years to appease my stomach. But as for alcohol, which i used to enjoy, the reaction was the same as most other digestive triggers (of mine) that is, 4 to 6 hours after ingestion.
I don’t know about you but even before a fib if I had certain types of coffee, I would get palpitations. I could not drink it some big name a coffee store or if I got a larger cup of it. It was pretty immediate. Instead of just getting the boost of energy, it was palpitations so I realized I needed to not drink it.
you know they have half caf that is pretty good now not like the old days. I have gotten hooked on mushroom 35% can’t explain how delicious with a little bit of a chocolate taste. I cleared it with the He laughed at me and said why don’t you just eat the mushrooms? I told him I wanted something instead of coffee so if this is OK with him, I like my substitution. I do love mushrooms. I could make a meal of those as well and they are really good for you if you have the taste for them.
as far as alcohol I keep away from it because it’s the other stuff in it. sometimes it’s when you have it I think. I love an icy cold glass of sangria and the one that I like at a local restaurant is more fruit juice I think than alcohol. With a meal sipping on it I’m fine. One day it was hot we had been running around and I think I drank it too fast and it was too cold. I had a bad trigger of a fib almost immediately. I can’t speak for other alcohol because I don’t drink it. I never had a big taste for alcohol alcoholic, except for wine and even that a little goes a long way with me so this is all I can say
even ice cream will trigger for me in fact it triggers every time so I know it is the cold factor. I can feel it so again I don’t do it very often and I’m not a big ice cream eater either.
you know what a fib feels like you have to decide is it worth it? We are all different and have different reactions. It’s your reaction that matters.
With alcohol I find I can drink in moderation (1-2 beers) and be okay. Same with coffee (Decaf, Half-Caf, Tea). They never put me in AF prior to ablation, but the after effects would trigger lots of PAC's/PVC's if I drank more heavily. It seems the impact on sleep, hydration status and perhaps digestion challenges further down the line were what caused my systemic challenges which in turn would shift my autonomic engine on and precipitate palpitations, etc. Similarly I can trigger them during consumption if I step up to multiple liquor drinks or energy drinks or multiple coffees. For any trigger, I try to think in terms of how it challenges my autonomic systems which for me, are the true drivers for arrythmia,...not direct consumption of the offensive materials (alcohol, caffeine, sugar, exercise, cold, hot, etc.)
in my personal experience caffeine and alcohol are both definitely triggers but I drink decaffeinated and rarely alcohol however sometimes it’s an instant trigger but other times it’s delayed hope this helps
Delayed reaction for me, though I suspect heavy doses of either could be immediate.
By delayed I mean approx 12-48 hours. Could very well be cumulative over longer time periods. Excellent question scientific study here would be excellent but difficult for researchers I suspect.
I’ve been AF free for c. 3 yrs, post cryoblation. I wanted to wean off the barley water I drink while playing golf. So I tried a mix of coconut water, lemon juice and touch of salt, a few weeks ago, a recipe I found on Healthonline. Within 8 hours I went into AF, but took a Bisoprolol and thankfully have been back in NSR since…I drink little alcohol, but do drink coffee, neither have ever triggered AF…
I think I am the only resident physician on this forum. If true I believe I may be the only specialist board certified in clinical immunology. That said there is growing data indicating that chronic inflammation underlying AF is caused by a relatively new mechanism of immunity ( NLRP—3 inflammasome) that is out of whack by overstimulation caused by danger associated molecular products from alcohol , cholesterol elevations, diabetes type 2 and obesity. This mechanism is comprised of many proteins located in immune cells and in heart cells. When it is stimulated as described it secretes little proteins called cytokines that attract inflammatory cells leading to chronic inflammation especially if one has unhealthy lifestyles . I mention all of this as each of us will stimulate different amounts of cytokines causing chronic inflammation at the cellular level. Hence all prior comments are likely true but basically alcohol in whatever amounts ingrsted and depending on one’s metabolism can and will stimulate chronic inflammation as a cause of AF.
I hope I am not being too pedantic by explaining this likely cause of AF. Read my BIO if it is of interest
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Tinnitus and Caffeine
Afib and alcohol
Apixaban and alcohol.
Changes in alcohol tolerance
Alcohol and AFib
