Some people with
atrial fibrillation say it feels like their heart could flop out of their
chests. Others feel like they're about to pass out. And still others feel
nothing at all.
Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common
form of heart arrhythmia, or
irregular heartbeat, affecting 2.7-6.1 million people in the United States,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although A-fib
disorders may appear with a variety of symptoms, they all have the same cause -
irregular and rapid beating of the upper chambers of the heart.
Episodes of
A-fib can be unsettling and uncomfortable, but are not generally
life-threatening. However, if untreated, A-fib can lead to dangerous health
conditions.
People with
A-fib are around five times more likely to have a stroke than
people without the condition, and strokes can lead to permanent disability or
death.
A-fib can
weaken the heart muscle over time, which triples
the risk of heart failure.
Risk of dementiadoubles
also.
Caffeine and alcohol: Effects on A-fib and the heart
The overall impact of
alcohol on the heart is the subject of ongoing discussion in the medical
community.
Researchers
have found it can have both positive and negative impacts on the heart.
The positive
effects of alcohol, associated with moderate drinking only, include:
·
raising levels of the
"good" cholesterol, HDL
·
preventing platelets from
forming blood clots
·
reducing the buildup of plaque
in the circulatory system
The following
negative effects of alcohol on the heart are usually associated with heavy
drinking:
·
high blood pressure
·
heart failure
·
weight gain, leading to high
blood pressure
·
enlarged heart
According to
the American Heart Association, although caffeine has
many effects on the human body, at present no links have been confirmed between
caffeine intake and heart disease.
In addition,
studies have not found a link between caffeine and arrhythmia. However, reports
indicate that drinking more than 5 cups of coffee each
day can raise blood pressure.
Are alcohol and caffeine triggers that can cause A-fib?
Many health experts believe there is a
connection between caffeine, alcohol, and A-fib, and that either substance can
trigger an attack. However, researchers are still investigating the specific
causes.
Many factors
identified as possible triggers for A-fib may work alone or together to cause
the condition. This makes it difficult to establish what is or is not a
trigger.
As a result,
it is also hard to work out how much coffee or alcohol could trigger an episode
of A-fib.
Alcohol is a
known trigger for a specific form of A-fib known as holiday heart syndrome
(HHS). HHS is the sudden appearance of A-fib in individuals who are otherwise
healthy, but who recently took part in binge drinking. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) define binge drinkingas more than five drinks for men
and four drinks for women in a 2-hour period.
Researchers
have noticed these cases are more frequent after weekends and holidays linked
with increased alcohol use, which is how HHS got its name.
In addition, some
studies have found a connection between the risk of A-fib and
chronic, alcohol use. A connection was not found for moderate drinkers.
A 2005
study exploring caffeine use in Scandinavia did not find any
connection between A-fib and caffeine use.
Are alcohol and caffeine safe with A-fib?
The scientific
community is divided on whether or not people with A-fib can consume alcohol or
caffeine safely.
The American Heart Association advise individuals
with A-fib to avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine.
However, a
report published in the Journal of the American College of
Cardiology found that even moderate use of alcohol increased
the risk of A-fib. The risk rose by around 8 percent with
each additional drink taken per day.
A third study found that two drinks each day for
women did not increase the risk of A-fib, but three or more did. Another study
found that the risk did not increase for men until they had more than five
drinks per day.
There is some
concern among experts regarding energy drinks. This is due to the high level of
caffeine they contain and observed increases in the heart's contraction
rate. Healthy young adults could tolerate this increase, but it could be a
problem for children and those with pre-existing heart conditions.
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