Coffee May Protect Against Irregular Heartbeat, New Study Finds
Dubai – Qahwa World
A new study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of Adelaide has challenged long-standing medical advice discouraging people with atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) from consuming coffee.
The study, published on November 9 in JAMA, found that drinking at least one cup of caffeinated coffee or an espresso a day reduced the risk of A-Fib recurrence by 39%. Traditionally, patients with heart rhythm disorders were advised to avoid caffeine, fearing it could trigger rapid or irregular heartbeats.
Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, electrophysiologist at UCSF Health and senior author of the study, explained that coffee may have multiple benefits: “Coffee increases physical activity, which helps reduce atrial fibrillation. Caffeine is also a mild diuretic that can lower blood pressure, while several coffee compounds have anti-inflammatory effects.”
The research team, in a trial aptly named DECAF (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation?), enrolled 200 coffee-drinking patients diagnosed with persistent A-Fib or atrial flutter. Participants scheduled for electrical cardioversion—a procedure that restores normal heart rhythm—were randomly divided into two groups: one consumed caffeinated coffee daily for six months, while the other abstained completely from caffeine.
Results showed a significant drop in A-Fib recurrence among coffee drinkers. Researchers believe that in addition to its biological effects, coffee consumption might reduce reliance on less healthy drinks.
Lead author Christopher X. Wong, Ph.D., from UCSF and the University of Adelaide, summarized the findings: “Doctors have always advised patients with A-Fib to limit coffee, but this trial suggests that coffee is not only safe—it may actually be protective.”
A-Fib currently affects over 10 million adults in the United States, and with an aging population, it could impact up to one in three people. This study opens a new perspective on how moderate coffee consumption might play a beneficial role in cardiovascular health.
