Excess coffee consumption not a cause of atrial fibrillation

Excess coffee consumption not a cause of atrial fibrillationA new study suggests that coffee consumption is not linked with atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat. You may notice that sometimes when you consume coffee you feel shaky or as if your heart is “fluttering.” However, the new findings do not reveal an association between your coffee consumption and your fluttering heart.The research comes from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The American Heart Association estimated 2.7 million Americans have atrial fibrillation. Fluttering or irregular heartbeat can progress into other complications, like blood clots, heart failure and stroke.

Previous research on coffee consumption revealed that moderate coffee consumption may reduce a person’s risk of heart disease; however, when it comes to coffee and atrial fibrillation, many scientists still believe it can increase your risk of irregular heart rate.

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The research involved nearly a quarter of a million people from the U.S. and Sweden.

The researchers first analyzed data from a study which included 41,881 men and 34,594 women. Participants started reporting their coffee consumption (in cups) in 1997 and were then tracked for 12 years. On average the men and women drank three cups of coffee a day. 4,311 men and 2,730 women reported cases of atrial fibrillation over the course of the study.

By analyzing the results the researchers determined there was not an association between coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation – even when large quantities of coffee were consumed.

Researchers then analyzed four alternative studies where the total number of atrial fibrillation cases rose to 10,406 from 248,910 participants. The researchers found that coffee consumption was linked with a non-significant increased risk of atrial fibrillation in men and a non-significant decreased risk in women. The conclusion made by the researchers was that there is not an association between coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation.

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Coffee may still lead to other forms of irregular heart rates, as seen in people who cut down their amounts of coffee consumed. In conclusion, additional research needs to be conducted in order to answer such questions.

Also Read: Heartbeat trouble could be atrial fibrillation
Use of anticoagulants to treat atrial fibrillation increases, Warfarin therapy visits slump


Source:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/atrial-fibrillation-not-caused-drinking-too-much-coffee-study

Author Bio

Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.

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