From the Guidelines
Coffee can potentially trigger supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) events in susceptible individuals due to its caffeine content. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases heart rate and can act as a trigger for arrhythmias in some people 1. If you have a history of SVT, it would be prudent to monitor your caffeine intake and observe if there's a correlation between your coffee consumption and SVT episodes. Consider limiting coffee to 1-2 cups per day (about 100-200mg caffeine) or switching to decaffeinated options if you notice that coffee consistently precedes your SVT events. The mechanism involves caffeine's ability to block adenosine receptors, which normally help regulate heart rhythm, and its stimulation of adrenaline release, both of which can increase heart rate and potentially trigger SVT in predisposed individuals.
Key Considerations
- The incidence of SVT is 1–3 cases per 1000 persons, with a prevalence of 0.2% in the general population, and this prevalence increases with age 1.
- Common symptoms of SVT include palpitations, chest discomfort, fatigue, light-headedness, shortness of breath, anxiety, dizziness, dyspnoea, and, uncommonly, syncope 1.
- Untreated SVT can result in heart failure (HF), pulmonary oedema, and/or myocardial ischaemia secondary to an increased heart rate, and in adults with congenital heart diseases (ACHD) SVT increased the risk of HF, stroke, and sudden cardiac death 1.
- While the 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline for the management of adult patients with supraventricular tachycardia provides comprehensive guidance on management, it does not specifically address the role of caffeine or coffee in triggering SVT events 1.
Recommendations
- If you experience palpitations, rapid heartbeat, or other symptoms after consuming coffee, discuss this with your healthcare provider who may recommend reducing or eliminating caffeine from your diet as part of your SVT management plan.
- Given the potential for coffee to trigger SVT events, it is recommended to limit coffee consumption to 1-2 cups per day (about 100-200mg caffeine) or switch to decaffeinated options if you have a history of SVT.
From the Research
Coffee and Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- The relationship between coffee consumption and SVT events is a topic of interest, with some studies investigating the effects of caffeine on cardiac rhythm.
- A study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology 2 found that moderate caffeine intake was not associated with significant effects on cardiac conduction and refractoriness, and did not increase the likelihood of SVT induction.
- The study, which involved 80 patients with symptomatic SVT, found that caffeine was associated with significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, but had no effect on SVT induction or the cycle length of induced tachycardias.
- Other studies have focused on the diagnosis and management of SVT, rather than the specific triggers of SVT events 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Overall, the available evidence suggests that coffee consumption is not a significant trigger for SVT events, although individual responses to caffeine may vary.
Diagnosis and Management of SVT
- SVT is a common cardiac rhythm disturbance that can be diagnosed using electrocardiography and managed with vagal maneuvers, adenosine, and other therapies 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Catheter ablation is a highly effective treatment for preventing recurrent SVT, with success rates of 94.3% to 98.5% 6.
- Long-term management of SVT may involve pharmacotherapy, including calcium channel blockers, β-blockers, and antiarrhythmic agents, although the evidence for their effectiveness is limited 6.