Heart palpitations or irregular heart rhythms can occur for many reasons. In some cases they can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, while in other cases they can be an occasional occurrence caused by diet, stress or illness. If you have heart palpitations, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Part of your treatment plan may be to change your diet and limit caffeine intake.
Heart Palpitations
If you are experiencing heart palpitations you may have sensations that your heart is racing or pounding, or it may beat faster or slower than normal. You might feel these sensations in your chest, throat, or neck, and in most cases they are not serious, according to Medline Plus. For some, heart palpitations can be the result of lifestyle choices. However, palpitations can also be caused by heart disease, a structural problem with the heart muscle or a valve, or an imbalance of electrolytes, so it is always best to have palpitations evaluated.
Caffeine and Heart Palpitations
Caffeine creates feelings of alertness by stimulating the central nervous system, which means caffeine can affect your heart rate. Too much caffeine, stress, some medications and smoking are all common triggers for heart palpitations, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Your physician can listen to your heartbeat and run tests to determine if caffeine is a factor.
Daily Amount
Everyone's sensitivity to caffeine is different; some feel the effects after drinking just one cup of coffee, while others can drink several cups with no effect. In addition to heart palpitations, signs that you may be drinking too much caffeine include feeling nervous or jittery, having trouble falling asleep or feeling restless, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. When you drink coffee, be aware that adding cream or flavored creamers can add fat and calories, both of which can increase your risk of heart disease.
Sources
Caffeine is in many beverages, foods and some medications. According to the Cleveland Clinic, if you want to cut back on caffeine you should limit consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, tea, soda and sports drinks; even decaffeinated products, are not always completely caffeine-free. Chocolate, coffee liquors, cocoa mix, malt powder and chocolate flavorings also contain caffeine. Talk to your physician about any diet pills, cold remedies or other herbal, prescription or over-the-counter medications you take that might have caffeine.
