Caffeine is among the most widely consumed stimulants in the world. According to Medline Plus of the National Institutes of Health, caffeine has many effects on the body, including central nervous system stimulation, which can make you more alert and energetic. In addition to stimulating the brain, caffeine may also cause an increased heart rate, or tachycardia. However, studies have not shown a correlation between caffeine and atrial fibrillation.
About Atrial Fibrillation
According to MayoClinic.com, atrial fibrillation is an irregularly fast heartbeat that causes a decrease in blood flow to the tissues throughout the body. This occurs when the upper two chambers of the heart beat out of sync with the ventricles, or the two lower chambers of the heart. This may cause shortness of breath, heart palpitations and weakness. Untreated atrial fibrillation may allow a blood clot to form in the atrium of the heart, which may travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
How Caffeine Affects the Heart
Caffeine is known to have effects on the heart. Specifically, too much caffeine intake may cause tachycardia, states MayoClinic.com. In most cases, tachycardia does not pose a health risk in those with healthy hearts. However, if you have heart disease or a history of abnormal heart rhythms, caffeine-induced tachycardia may put unnecessary strain on your heart. Therefore, check with your doctor before taking caffeine if you have known heart problems.
Caffeine and Atrial Fibrillation
In a June of 2010 article of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, David Conen et al. analyzed the Women's Health Study, which assessed the health habits of 33,638 women. The women in the study provided information regarding caffeine intake and the development of atrial fibrillation. After analyzing 16 years of follow-up, the researchers determined that there is no correlation between caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation.
Recommendations
Conen et al. provided strong support that caffeine intake does not increase your risk for developing atrial fibrillation. However, if you currently have atrial fibrillation, you should ask your doctor if it is OK for you to consume caffeine-containing products and how much. MayoClinic.com recommends that you avoid consuming more than 500 to 600 mg per day.
