Heart Beat: Atrial fibrillation? Don't blame caffeine
Caffeine has long been suspected to be a trigger for atrial fibrillation, an all-too-common problem that turns the steady, coordinated beat of the heart's upper chambers into a fast, erratic churn. While it is possible that drinking eight cups of espresso in an afternoon could spark atrial fibrillation, moderate caffeine consumption has little effect on its development, according to a large Harvard-based study.
This study is in line with others showing little effect of moderate daily doses of caffeine on the development of atrial fibrillation. A few laboratory studies even suggest that moderate caffeine intake may help protect the heart against this problematic rhythm disorder.
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