Atrial Fibrilation and dark chocolate

[Fight-the-good-fight]

Hi all. My appointment this week confirmed I have Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, not flutter, as first thought.

In addition, due to my family history they want to do further tests as they believe I may have inherited coronary heart disease 😩

Consultants are writing to my GP with recommendations for meds.

I am genuinely upset with this diagnosis as I eat healthily and exercise. However, I do suffer from health anxiety.

Aside from all this, I adore dark chocolate-but I realise it can trigger AF. How do you guys get around this?

Alcohol I have completely ruled out.

Thanks, stay well.

[Yumz199725]

Wow wasn't aware dark chocolate can trigger AF. Glad there being thorough given your family history x I have a family history of heart problems from grandad he passed about 9 years this November 💔 and my cousin, my 2 brothers so quite a few but me and my cousin have it the worst x hope your tests are able to shed some light on what's causing your AF. All the best and keep us updated x

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to Yumz199725]

Apparently it’s the caffeine. Thanks for your support.

Stay well. X

[Yumz199725 in reply to Fight-the-good-fight]

oh ok yeah that makes sense actually I can't have normal tea must drink decaf I had one yesterday because my mum had run out of decaf and I thought can't do much harm it's only occasionally I have one, well I felt sick, short of breathe chest discomfort and so tired so definitely will stick with decaf x 😅

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Besides Caffeine chocolate has two other significant chemicals. Theobromine which has a similar effect to Caffeine and Phenylethylamine that stimulates the body to make chemicals that give you a lift (which makes chocolate moreish). The darker the chocolate the higher the concentration of these chemicals.

The basicist of foods to avoid for AF are alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and spicy foods. Another potential one is the high concentrations of MSG in most Chinese food.

A friend elimated all these and now if off medication (GP approved this).

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for your response, useful information.

I take decaf tea after lunchtime, no alcohol, don’t eat Chinese food, but I love to make my own curry’s. However, I realise pre-diagnosis what I thought to be indigestion after eating curry, was in fact an episode of AF.

I shall now eliminate spicy food-small price to pay to prevent episodes.

In addition to the above, having normal BP most of my life. I now believe my BP is heading into ‘Hypertension 1 stage’. Average 145/94 pulse average 65

I suppose being in my mid 60’s this can happen.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Fight-the-good-fight]

Unfortunately it does to rise as we age, I don't like your lower one (Diastolic) one. Are you on a beta blocker, like Bisoprolol, for your AF which also helps with BP. I am on low doses of Lisinopril (ACE Inhibitor) and Bisoprolol which seems to work well. (circa 115/65).

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to MichaelJH]

Wow, your BP is excellent.

I had my first consultation on Wednesday. The consultant is writing to my GP with recommendation for meds. I have to wait until he receives their letter before I can make an appointment.

I was administered with 5mg Bisoprolol in A&E. it certainly stabilised, and brought my rate down.

Michael, do you have any side with the meds?

Thank you 😊

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Fight-the-good-fight]

My worse side effect was with Amlodipine (a CCI - Calcium Channel Inhibitor) which caused severe oedema and Simvastatin which caused muscle pain and aches in my shoulders which a change to Atorvastatin eliminated. The anti-anginals Isosorbide Mononitrate and Diltiazem which caused headaches and light headedness for the first week to 10 days. My other unrelated issue is with synthetic insulin where I don't recognise hypos - thus I am one of only a few thousand on animal insulin!

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for that. Hope you are continuing to stay well.

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for the info Michael, hopefully you are free of side effects now.

[Jalia]

I have a 30 year AFib history and have never heard of chocolate being a trigger. Having said that, if you find it's a trigger for you then you know to avoid it. All things in moderation. A small amount of dark chocolate is in fact beneficial.......small being the key word!

Note that a trigger for one person is not necessarily a trigger for another!

[Ewloe]

There’s different triggers for different people. I never ruled out small amounts of dark chocolate or alcohol although stick to decaf tea and coffee just incase . I’m a fit healthy person but dabble a little with dark chocolate and alcohol with no issues.

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to Ewloe]

Thanks Ewloe, I guess it’s like everything in life, no one size fits all.

The caffeine content in dark chocolate is a definite trigger for me.

I take decaf tea and coffee, and no alcohol.

Stay well.

[LadyZ13]

What??!! This is huge information. I'm in atrial flutter post surgery and always have two squares of dark chocolate after supper to get my chocolate fix without gaining weight. I've cut out caffeine and alcohol entirely but had no idea dark chocolate was a trigger. I'm to be referred for cardioversion if this doesn't correct.

Such a shame as dark chocolate is one of the few dietary pleasures I had left, but I will stop eating it and see if that makes any difference...

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to LadyZ13]

it’s the caffeine in dark chocolate that triggers mine.

Having it early in the day makes no difference to me.

Pity, as it has many other health benefits. Good luck, going forward.

[Jalia in reply to LadyZ13]

I actually had a hospital consultant tell me that a couple of squares of dark chocolate is good for you!

[LadyZ13 in reply to Jalia]

That was what I thought! But seeing as I'm in flutter maybe I'll stop until it is resolved.

[Jalia in reply to LadyZ13]

Probably wise. You'll find out by trial and error

[LadyZ13 in reply to Jalia]

I'm currently on a holter with a view to a cardioversion if it doesn't improve. OHS less than 7 weeks ago...

[Jalia in reply to LadyZ13]

Oh you have been through the mill and so young.....I've just read your bio. A cardioversion will he a walk in the park for you ! I had my 24th dccv 4 weeks ago.

I actually found that A flutter was more troublesome than Afib but was quickly resolved with cardioversion.

Hopefully you will get back to NSR speedily.

Regards

J

[LadyZ13 in reply to Jalia]

Thanks Jalia, it has been a heck of a few months 😭 glad I'm now allowed to take off the holter. Your comment is really encouraging. X

[RumblingChest in reply to LadyZ13]

This is shocking news. I’m going to have to run an n=1 experiment on this. To ensure statistical validity a number of repeat trials will be needed. I reckon 300g’s Waitrose #1 90% should do it 😋.

That said, I’m convinced Cinnamon Rolls are a trigger of arrhythmias for me ☹️.

[LadyZ13 in reply to RumblingChest]

Totally valid study! Sorry about the Cinnamon Rolls though.

[intheweeds]

wow, I love dark chocolate and have PAF. I also love spicy food!

Perhaps I should cut down on these a bit.

This has given me pause for thought, thanks.

[LaceyLady]

I have paternal history of strokes. I developed SVT around 54, didn’t cause lot of problems but the medication was not good, so went without. 2019 brought PAF, I’d had a ‘bad virus/flu/ or Covid? Since found I have Haemochromatosis Compound variant. The heart issues are mentioned in GH!

Research family if you can and if Celtic, get a GH test.

[lizzieloo2]

Hi. I have had PAF for 10 years now and I was told by my first cardiologist that there was nothing I could do to avoid it. However, one of the nurses whose husband had AF told me that there were plenty of things to help - exercise, plenty of water and decaffeinated tea and coffee. I immediately swapped to decaff coffee but not tea and I've had no ill effects from the tea. Dark chocolate is definitely a trigger for me and that is due to the caffeine I think. Not drinking enough water and overdoing things also triggers it plus too much wine. My AF has become more frequent over the years to the point where it is now anywhere from every 1 - 2 weeks but it is less severe. I drink wine and eat chocolate for 3 days at the weekend and avoid both during the week. I can't definitely say that the episodes occur at the weekend so I will carry on with this regime making sure that I drink plenty of squash especially on the days I plan to have a drink and this seems to work. I make curry weekly and don't think this has any detrimental effects. I take 300mg Diltiazem for the arrhythmia, 20mg Rivaroxaban as the anticoagulant and 100mg Flecainide as a PIP. I don't let it all bother me now like it used to but it does concern me that everyone on here seems to be on a different set of drugs and dosages and the information provided by the hospital varies if given at all. We shouldn't have to query everything and the best advice and info I've received has been from the arrhythmia nurses during telephone appointments. I've written down all my queries and asked every one and my appointments have lasted up to an hour sometimes. I am due to have an ablation on 8 August and just hope it is successful because I'm not looking forward to it. Take care

[Jetcat]

do you get afib when you eat chocolate.? They say chockies can give you afib but so can many other things.? Try and find your triggers.!! Although Iv spent years trying to find my triggers and nearly drove myself crazy in the process so I hope you’re more successful than me.!! It’s good that you’re having the tests regarding your family history. Have you any CHD symptoms or are they just for the history.? Iv got also got CHD In the family. Father,brother,cousins and begged for tests because they didn’t think the link was too important.😳 they came back ok anyway thankfully.

[Girlygolfer]

hi I’m new on the forum and was diagnosed early in the year with Afib. I found your post very informative as I have regular episodes and only last night after eating a spicy curry and bingeing on chocolate I had another episode! Think the new year is going to be a cut back on caffeine and spicy food. It’s a learning curve and adjusting to the condition so thank you. Take care x

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to Girlygolfer]

Hi Girlygolfer, sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with this nuisance.

Despite the fact I continue to abstain from alcohol, caffeine and dark chocolate. I still experience PAF episodes.

That said, I am sure my episodes would be more frequent if I consumed the above.

Good luck, on your journey. Take care. X

[Girlygolfer]

thank you for taking the time to reply. I am beginning to accept this condition and not let it define my life style. I have not had any alcohol since Xmas but have munched on Chocolate 😊 not had an episode as yet. I have started to keep a diary of the foods I eat and keeping to exercising each day ranging from yoga - walking - cardio and I play golf twice a week. All the scans- blood tests and chest xray have not shown anything wrong.

Keep taking the tablets and getting on with life and staying positive is my mind set from now on.

All the best x

[Fight-the-good-fight in reply to Girlygolfer]

Absolutely, that is the frustrating thing about it. Like you, my tests-bloods etc showed no sign of heart disease etc. I do however suffer from hypertension.

We carry on living the best and healthiest life style that we can.

On a positive note, taking a PIP at the onset of an episode has reduced the severity, and the time of my attacks.

Sounds like you are doing everything to help your condition.

Xx