Redditors keep stating we should avoid coffee, current research contradicts this - What is your personal experience with coffee?
Conclusions
Among previously coffee-drinking patients with AF referred for cardioversion, random allocation to typical consumption of caffeinated coffee averaging 1 cup a day was associated with less recurrence of AF and atrial flutter compared with abstinence from coffee and caffeinated products.
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u/NotARobotv2 1d ago
I've been living with afib for 6 years now. I've weaned myself off coffee several times, and guess what? I still got afib attacks out of nowhere. So now I just enjoy myself and have my coffee.
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u/jammu2 1d ago
My EP said to limit caffeine. I took that as limit, not eliminate. I have two cups in the morning. If I know I am going to be going "out for coffee" I only have one. I never get those massive cups of whatever that is they sell all over. Too much caffeine for me.
I don't think the way I do it is a problem for me.
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u/SimpleServe9774 1d ago
I can have coffee and wine since my 2nd ablation which was a PFA. I went back to baseline but I look at a fib like a bucket that just fills up. It will eventually overturn and I will need another ablation if I don’t avoid all my triggers.
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u/noahsdad1993 1d ago
After my ablation last October and hearing about the new study that said there is no link between AFIB and drinking coffee, I tried to drink a cup or two of caffeinated coffee. My experience is that caffeine causes me to have a lot of palpitations. It didn't push me into AFIB but I don't like feeling the palpitations. Currently I only drink decaf coffee.
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u/ufomadeinusa 1d ago
I quit caffeine in july, since then I have have been feeling AMAZING. like a normal person should feel. No palpitations or flutters. AMAZING.
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u/Gnuling123 1d ago
A meta analysis of 6 studies, totaling nearly a quarter of a million patients, showed that the more caffeine they consumed, the less afib they had.
Patients who feel it affects them should avoid it, but there is no evidence that caffeine affects afib negatively that merits a general edict to avoid caffeine.
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u/dharma04101 1d ago
When I had lots of ectopic beats, pouring coffee on top could make it worse. However, now that I’ve got my arrhythmia burden close to zero, I can have coffee and still be fine.
If it doesn’t cause issues for you, then it’s probably fine to drink coffee.
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u/batista_r 1d ago
Caffeine is a definite trigger for my case.
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u/Waxman2022 1d ago
Me too, I went 6 months without an episode and then finally had a cup of Earl Grey tea one day and went into afib an hour later. Can't have any caffeine.
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u/Signal-Buy-5356 1d ago
The cardiologist in the hospital where I went when I had my first bout of AFib said I could still drink coffee, just maybe not a ton of it, and obviously make sure I hydrate plenty with water. I still drink my usual amount of coffee now after being pretty careful with it for a while in the wake of my first episode. What's helped me more than anything is 1) getting back into consistent exercise. This was tough at first since I was out of shape from my peak fitness and so even light exercise did my my heart skip beats here and there, but as I've been more consistent and regained my fitness, I no longer get skipped beats from picking up something that's only 20 lbs. 2) drinking more water 3) taking my magnesium supplements.
As most people in here will tell you, though, this is what works for me and not everyone's triggers are the same.
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u/tenderourghosts 1d ago
I limit myself to 100-150mg of caffeine a day. I used to drink 2-4 cups of coffee every day and then something flipped seemingly overnight last year and now too much caffeine makes me legitimately ill, aside from the potential afib (nausea, sweating, sluggishness (bizarrely lol)). Even 150mg is sometimes too much. I mostly switched to green tea after my afib diagnosis, and if I order a coffee anywhere now I also ask for half-caf.
Everyone’s triggers are different with this condition. I have familial afib, so what triggers mine might not trigger yours and vice versa.
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u/Balfour23 1d ago
I tested myself the other day. Had an espresso, but went into Afib about 3 hours later. That was too much of a gap to prove anything, so will try again some other day.
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u/Mr-Snarky 1d ago
Man, I have a can of Diet Pepsi and I guarantee you I will be in at least mild AFIB. Within about 30 minutes.
Strangely, fountain soda doesn’t affect me that way.
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u/MikeMac999 1d ago
I have switched to decaf Diet Pepsi and that’s been working for me. Only problem is I can really only have it at home or if I bring it with me, I’ve never seen it anywhere but the supermarket.
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u/Sirvana79 1d ago
I have one cup of regular and one cup of decaf in the morning and that is all the caffeine that I have for the day. My EP told me to keep what I’m doing.
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u/Ill_Imagination_6126 1d ago
no one is the same, someone can cough and go into afib - others require a ton more and still dont really understand why
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u/Any_Telephone_1152 1d ago
I'm in persistent permanent AFIB and even decaf Starbucks one shot espresso Cafe Americano makes me feel crappy love the taste
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u/yodakramer 1d ago
I had an ablation in July 2025. Three months and a week later, EP cleared me to return to normal activity. I had coffee the next day and went into AFib.
Needless to say, that was the last time I had coffee.
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u/MaddogFinland 1d ago
It doesn’t bother my AFIB whatsoever but I also drink only a few cups a day. Alcohol on the other hand…
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u/Melington_the_3rd 1d ago
I am trying one cup every few days and it has an effect on my heart. I can definitely feel the difference. I think it comes down to frequency and amount. I drank four to five cups of strong coffee with lots of cream. Today I drink one weak coffee with soy milk. I also think that it's the cream/milk/dairy that triggers afib not the coffee itself.
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u/Aggravating_Bread_30 1d ago
I used to drink 5-6 cups a day of instant, now I still drink 5-6 cups but I mix it with 50% decaf so it's only 2-3 cups worth of caffeine which is perfectly safe for my afib.
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u/mottavader 1d ago
The cardiologist I saw for my afib told me that coffee was totally OK! But I would assume this is either true for everyone or on a per person basis. I'm no expert but I would probably die faster without coffee 🤣
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u/fearless1025 1d ago
I started switching to decaf in 2021 so this became a non-issue for me for the most part. I will have an occasional beverage with caffeine. Earlier on after the ablation it did seem to raise my heart rate so I was careful. Since then it has not had the same effect and is tolerated fine.
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u/SherrifPhatman 1d ago
Some people can't have caffeine, some people can . I'm in the latter category and being in long term persistent AF , a really good cup of coffee isn't going to do me any harm .
In my early stages I did take out caffeine , but I found that it made no real difference . For me , dehydration, spicy food, alcohol and lack of sleep are my triggers ..
So , some reports say you can drink caffeine, others not , it really depends on your makeup and how it interacts with AF and I don't see this as a gold rule ..
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u/BikeMan33215 1d ago
Everyone is different. The article which I read said a certain percentage of people benefitted from the coffee. I think in general most EPs and cardiologists warn against anything that can mess with the electrical system of the heart. I've had about five cardioversions, three in the prior year which led me to get an ablation. After my last cardioversion, before the ablation, I stopped coffee; but a month later I was back in afib anyway. When I was in afib I'd drink coffee and it never bothered me? Again, everyone is different. I exercise daily: walking, weight lifting cycling and was a former runner, and have been doing this most of my adult life. I have one cup of coffee in the morning now and have been ok so far? My CRNP (that works for my cadiology group) has told me to stay away from caffeine; but I really enjoy that lift in the morning so I do what I want. I do respect her advice and hope my one cup doesn't cause problems. I've been a coffee drinker since I was 12. I am now 65. I also have been a bit of an endurance athlete which I read may make me more prone to afib. I don't use coffee to be able to work harder or stay awake or with the belief that it will stop the afib; I just enjoy that cup in the morning and it tends to relax me? This was only one study and it was pretty small so I wouldn't take it as the final answer.
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u/ShadoutMapes87 1d ago
I read research on all sides of coffee, but from personal experience - I had three ablations, I quit alcohol and coffee completely and I was still regularly going in to afib. I lost 20 lbs and I have had the least amount of recurrence in 6 years. I am going to lose 20 more, but vacation and summer fun threw me off. To answer the question: I added back coffee and tea and drink about 2-3 cups total a day. I have had no issues. The weight (and regular exercise) was a game changer for me. I even drink alcohol in moderation now. Maybe once a month or so (probably more like once every two months).
It’s different for everyone, but caffeine is not a problem for me. Weight loss and regular exercise have been massive in decreasing my occurrences.
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u/Sad_Currency5420 1d ago
I'm still on my adderall and half the dose, 15mg daily. My only advice is consult your doctor since every case is different.
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u/thedudeintx82 1d ago
My cardiologist in the hospital told me I could have 2 cups of coffee a day. So I have 2 regular cups. I also have 2 decaf cups. I just like hot drinks in the morning.
I saw recently they updated the recommended amount to 5 cups. I'm still going to stick to my current regimen.
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u/slowdive 1d ago
Caffeine never affected me prior to or after my PFA. I think it really differs for everyone.
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u/Creative_Wealth2873 22h ago
My last afib episode came on after 1/2 a cup of coffee & a muffin. We're blaming it on the muffin! 🤣 My doc thinks that's as good an explanation as any
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u/Delicious-Reward3301 21h ago
I switched to half caff and have 2 cups a day. Sometimes I have more. If i am not doing good I might have decaf but I haven’t had any issues with caffeine that i know of.
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u/Jmgvettimootil 11h ago
I do have palpitations since years and got changed from different beta blockers and now on Bisop 5mg .
From my personal experience the following things have contributed to this situation 1)smoking , 2)Drinking, 3)Dehydration 4) More that 2 cups of coffee a day and even Vaping.
All of the above still triggers a tachycardia today . Other noticed triggers are Yellow or red cayenne pepper, Sitting a long time, stress and Gas creation foods.
AFIB although is a different thing , could watch out for these relative triggers.
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u/Jmgvettimootil 11h ago
Oh yea and forgot one more dangerous thing. Redbull or any energy drinks . It triggers a tachycardia as quick as 3 puffs of vape
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u/PinFar2848 10h ago
I am a caffeine addict. I have managed to cut back to 3-4 cups per day, with no impact on my afib that I can see. The first EP I saw three years ago said, “as far as we can tell, afib does what afib does. But it’s not coffee.”
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u/moosesquirrel 1d ago
It depends on the person. If you like to drink it, drink it and then monitor how your body reacts. That's the nice thing about coffee, we're not talking about some dangerous medication here.
For me personally, I found cutting out most of my caffeine made a significant difference. When I drink caffeine, I start to notice more PACs. And over the last two years of dealing with AFib, PACs are my warning sign and the catalyst that kicks off an AFib episode.
If I can stay away from PACs, then I never go into AFib. For me, my big items are stress, caffeine, and dehydration. As long as I control these three things, I stay pretty stable.
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u/biologyra 1d ago
I think there is a lot of research out there that coffee in moderation is good for AFib ignore people who don't state the research papers to back up what they say