DRINK COFFEE, CUT RISK OF HEART FLUTTER

Melbourne, April 17: Drinking coffee and tea can reduce abnormal heart rhythms, which is known to cause strokes, a study has found.

Many clinicians advise patients with atrial or ventricular arrhythmias to avoid caffeinated beverages.

Arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, cause the heart to beat too fast, slow or unevenly. While some arrhythmias may be harmless or even go unnoticed in patients, others can increase risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

Atrial fibrillation ( AFib), the most common heart rhythm disorder, causes the heart to beat rapidly and skip beats, and if left untreated, can cause strokes.

A single cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine and acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system. Once in the body, caffeine blocks the effects of adenosine, a chemical that can facilitate AFib.

Researchers at Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia analysed multiple populationbased studies to determine an association between caffeine intake and its effects.

These studies have consistently shown a decrease in AFib with an increase in caffeine ingestion, with one meta- analysis of 228,465 participants showing AFib frequency decreasing by six per cent in regular coffee drinkers.

“There is a public perception, often based on anecdotal experience, that caffeine is a common trigger for heart rhythm problems,” said Peter Kistler, director of electrophysiology at Alfred Hospital.