From the Guidelines
Coffee can be a trigger for atrial fibrillation (AFib) in some individuals, but the relationship varies from person to person. Caffeine in coffee acts as a stimulant that increases heart rate and blood pressure, potentially triggering AFib episodes in susceptible people 1. If you have AFib, it's advisable to monitor your response to coffee consumption. Try limiting intake to 1-2 cups daily (about 200mg caffeine) and observe if symptoms worsen after consumption. Some AFib patients find they need to avoid caffeine completely, while others can tolerate moderate amounts without problems. The stimulant effect works by blocking adenosine receptors and increasing adrenaline, which affects heart rhythm. Additionally, coffee can cause dehydration, which is another AFib trigger. If you notice palpitations, irregular heartbeat, or other AFib symptoms after drinking coffee, consider reducing your intake and discuss this with your healthcare provider who can help determine if coffee is a personal trigger for your condition 1. Key points to consider:
- Autonomic influences play an important role in the initiation of AF, with vagal predominance observed in some patients and sympathetic predominance in others 1
- Vagally mediated AF occurs at night or after meals, while adrenergically induced AF typically occurs during the daytime in patients with organic heart disease 1
- Classification of AF as of either the vagal or adrenergic form has only limited impact on management, but beta blockers are the initial treatment of choice for AF of the adrenergic type 1
From the Research
Atrial Fibrillation and Coffee Consumption
- The relationship between coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation (AFib) has been studied in several research papers 2, 3.
- A meta-analysis found no significant difference in AFib incidence when comparing subjects consuming less than 2 cups of coffee per day to those with higher consumption 2.
- In fact, the study found a lower incidence of AFib among people consuming more than 436 mg of caffeine daily 2.
- Another study suggested a lower risk of AFib among men who reported coffee consumption of 1 to 3 cups/day 3.
Studies on Atrial Fibrillation
- A study published in 1991 discussed the drug treatment of atrial fibrillation, but did not mention coffee consumption as a trigger 4.
- A review of atrial fibrillation published in 2025 discussed the condition's symptoms, risk factors, and management, but did not address coffee consumption specifically 5.
- Another article published in 2023 provided an overview of atrial fibrillation, including its diagnosis, symptoms, risk factors, and management, but did not mention coffee consumption 6.
Key Findings
- The available evidence suggests that coffee consumption is not a significant trigger for atrial fibrillation 2, 3.
- In fact, moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of AFib 3.
- However, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation.