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When Dr. David Kao tells a patient they have atrial fibrillation (an irregular, often fast heart rhythm that can lead to strokes, blood clots, and other health problems), the first question is usually, “Coffee?” Do I have to stop?”

His answers often surprise them. “No.”

“They’re very excited,” said Kao, a cardiologist and associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. For many people with heart disease, “coffee has been a part of their daily routine forever, and they’ve already stopped doing so many things. It just makes people feel normal.” It’s normal. ”

Their belief is that caffeine is to blame. Caffeine can give coffee lovers a morning boost and keep them alert when the daily slump begins.

“Because it’s a stimulant, it can cause heart problems, especially if you have an arrhythmia like atrial fibrillation,” said Dr. Jose Jogler, a professor and director of arrhythmia at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. I feel like my symptoms are getting worse and my symptoms are getting worse.” program. “But that’s not the world of science.”

Jogler is the lead author of new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib) by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, recently published in the journal Circulation. In their detailed discussion of lifestyle, risk modification, treatments, and the complexities of atrial fibrillation, the authors include concrete reassurance that caffeine is not the problem.

“Studies have generally found that consuming caffeine in normal amounts is not associated with an increased or decreased risk of developing atrial fibrillation,” the report states. ing.

“Caffeine doesn’t deserve the bad reputation it gets,” Jogler said. “Caffeine has been proven to be safe for the heart.”

Moreover, it might even be something good. A 2021 study published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure suggested that caffeinated coffee may actually reduce the risk of heart failure. The study analyzed three studies and showed that “increased coffee intake appears to be associated with a reduced risk of developing heart failure later in life.”

Cao, the senior author of the analysis, cites the study to reassure patients who have developed heart disease due to coffee.

“People wonder if they’ve been hurting themselves all along,” he says. “They’ve been coffee drinkers their whole lives and think it’s the cause of their atrial fibrillation, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I think they’re relieved to know it’s not their fault.”

According to the Food and Drug Administration, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (about 4 to 5 cups of coffee) is safe for healthy adults.

However, there are some caveats to this fun drink.

“There are always patients who are more sensitive to caffeine,” Jogler says. “Such patients should be careful. It can make them feel sick. Of course, if they drink too much, they will be irritated.” But for the average person, coffee is likely to have no negative effects on health. he said.

Kao agreed. “There may be other reasons why people want to stop drinking coffee, such as sleep disorders or anxiety disorders,” he says. “But it’s not for the heart.”

AFib recommendations for coffee do not apply to all heart conditions or high blood pressure. Jogler advised people to consult a doctor just to be sure.

It also doesn’t apply to all types of coffee. Kao said most of the research focused on caffeinated black coffee, not decaffeinated or instant coffee, which can lose some of its health benefits through processing. “I think the jury is still out on the decaf issue,” he said. “It would be really helpful if you knew.”

The same is true for carbonated beverages, especially those with artificial sweeteners, which is another major source of caffeine intake in the United States. “We haven’t analyzed it well enough,” Kao said.

Jogler is a coffee lover, but “I always thought caffeine was a superfood,” referring to coffee-based beverages fortified with sugar, flavored syrups, whipped cream and other high-calorie beverages. However, research has not shown that they are good for the heart.